A prominent Pakistani cleric known for his controversial statements has recently been honored with an award by the Archbishop of Canterbury, sparking widespread criticism and raising questions about the vetting process behind the recognition. The ceremony took place last Friday in London, where the cleric accepted the award accompanied by his wife.

The cleric has a history of making statements that have drawn condemnation internationally and domestically. He previously referred to the perpetrators of the October 7 attacks as “freedom fighters” and described suicide attacks against NATO troops in Afghanistan as lawful, characterizing NATO forces as occupiers of the country. Although he later claimed his remarks on suicide bombings were taken out of context and declared them un-Islamic, his earlier comments triggered significant backlash.

On social issues, the cleric has voiced support for conservative and strict interpretations of Islamic law, particularly concerning women’s rights. He has publicly endorsed Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy laws, which permit the death penalty for those accused of insulting Islam, and has advocated for such laws to be adopted internationally. In 2015, shortly after the deadly attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, he led a meeting in Lahore condemning the publication’s cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed as terrorism and called for the United Nations to create laws linking freedom of expression to respect for religions.

Domestically, he has supported measures viewed by many as repressive toward women. He backed the 2022 closure of a breast milk bank in Karachi, labeling it un-Islamic. In 2021, he publicly agreed with Pakistan’s prime minister that women who do not wear the hijab provoke sexual violence, asserting that immodest dress influences men’s behavior. Despite these conservative views, the cleric has occasionally spoken against forced marriage, child marriage, forced religious conversions, and honor killings and stated in 2022 that women do not need to be confined at home.

He has also promoted the right for Muslim men to marry up to four wives without requiring the first wife’s consent, arguing that Islamic law permits polygamy provided all wives are treated fairly.

The cleric has been critical of business relations between Pakistan and Israel, demanding inquiries and legal action following reports of Pakistani businessmen visiting Jerusalem, which he said hurt the sentiments of the global Muslim community.

The award ceremony has drawn attention both for the decision to honor a figure with such contentious views and for the timing, coinciding with September 11. The Church of England and Lambeth Palace have declined to comment on their rationale for awarding him or the details of the event logistics.

This development has stirred a new public relations challenge for the Church of England, eliciting debate about the criteria and due diligence applied when recognizing individuals with divisive and polarizing records.