The Archbishop of Canterbury has been forced to withdraw an award presented to a Muslim cleric on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 after it emerged that he had previously praised Osama bin Laden.
The Most Rev Sarah Mullally presented the Hubert Walter Award for ‘Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation’ to Tahir Ashrafi at a ceremony at Lambeth Palace on the same day the world marked 25 years since the terror attacks in the United States.
However, the Archbishop faced a backlash after previous comments by Mr Ashrafi came to light. He chairs the Pakistan Ulema Council, a group of Islamic scholars that had previously awarded its highest honour to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
In 2007, the council gave bin Laden the religious title ‘Saifullah’, meaning ‘Sword of Allah’, reportedly in retaliation for Britain awarding a knighthood to author Salman Rushdie.
Mr Ashrafi said in June 2007:
‘We are pleased to award the title of Saifullah to Osama bin Laden after the British government’s decision to bestow the title of “Sir” on blasphemer Rushdie. This is the highest title for a Muslim warrior.’
He added:
‘If a blasphemer can be given the title “Sir” by the West despite the fact that he’s hurt the feelings of Muslims, then a mujahid who has been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans and British must be given the lofty title of Islam, Saifullah.’
After the comments were circulated online on Thursday, the Archbishop faced calls to apologise and meet victims of terrorism to understand the hurt caused by the decision to honour Mr Ashrafi.
At 6pm, Lambeth Palace announced that the award had been withdrawn, while continuing to praise Mr Ashrafi’s work supporting religious minorities and promoting interfaith dialogue.
In a statement, Lambeth Palace said:
‘Last week the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation was presented to Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi in a ceremony at Lambeth Palace.
‘The award was given for Imam Ashrafi’s longstanding support for religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly the Christian community – support that is valued by many Christians in Pakistan, including its Anglican Church.
‘It is a longstanding principle of interfaith dialogue and co-operation that we must engage with one another across deeply held differences, and that remains the case.
‘However, previous comments made by Imam Ashrafi have come to light that have led Lambeth Palace to reconsider this award, and we can now confirm today that the award has been withdrawn. We have contacted Imam Ashrafi to make him aware of this decision.’
The palace added:
‘We continue to pray for the Christian community in Pakistan, and for all those working for interfaith dialogue and harmony in Pakistan and around the world.’
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy, who had highlighted the cleric’s previous remarks, welcomed the decision to withdraw the award.
He said:
‘It’s right that this award – given to an imam who praised Osama Bin Laden for targeting Brits – has been withdrawn.
‘The Archbishop of Canterbury needs to learn now and stop giving succour to those who would destroy us. The progressive dance with Islamism is dangerous and must end.’
The National Secular Society also welcomed the withdrawal, but criticised the decision to give the award in the first place.
It said:
‘We welcome the withdrawal of this award, but it is astonishing that it was given in the first place – on the anniversary of 9/11, no less.
‘This episode reveals not only appallingly poor judgement and inadequate due diligence, but a dangerous naivety about the religious figures legitimised through interfaith engagement.’
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