Archbishop of Canterbury Withdraws Award to Controversial Imam

The Archbishop of Canterbury has pulled back an award given to a Muslim cleric who had expressed admiration for Osama Bin Laden, marking a significant misstep for the leader of the worldwide Anglican communion.

This situation involves the Hubert Walter Award, which was recently presented to Pakistani Imam Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on September 11. The accolade was intended to recognize “reconciliation and interfaith cooperation,” citing Ashrafi’s work supporting religious minorities in Pakistan.

However, soon after the award ceremony, critics pointed out that even a brief review of Ashrafi’s background would have raised alarms. Particularly, an incident from 2007 resurfaced where he referred to Bin Laden using the title ‘Saifullah’, translating to “the sword of God,” in honor of his actions during jihad against non-believers.

According to a spokesperson for the Imam, these comments were taken out of context, but, honestly, they do not paint a flattering picture of him. At that time, Ashrafi was the chair of the Pakistan Ulema Council, and his controversial remarks were made amidst widespread protests against Britain honoring Salman Rushdie.

In his disapproval of Rushdie, who faces an Iranian fatwa due to his book Satanic Verses, Ashrafi dramatically claimed that if a “blasphemer” could be knighted, then a mujahid fighting for Islam deserved to be honored as well.

The Pakistan Ulema Council, which Ashrafi once led, has a complicated reputation. While it is currently recognized for promoting interfaith dialogue and denouncing extremism, it has not always maintained that stance. Historically, the organization has faced critiques for endorsing militant actions. Interestingly, a bulletin from 2016 noted that the Council had evolved, becoming more vocal against IED attacks and labeling groups like the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS as “ignorant and un-Islamic.” In 2017, it even issued a fatwa denouncing terrorism.

The backlash against the Archbishop of Canterbury extended beyond the award itself, reflecting deeper concerns about the Church of England’s relevance. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage voiced disbelief at the decision, questioning why an award would be given to someone who praised Bin Laden shortly after 9/11. Fellow party member Robert Jenrick condemned the action as a “catastrophic error,” urging the Church to refocus on Christian worshippers instead of accommodating Islamists.

Danny Kruger, a significant figure within Reform UK, expressed concern that the Church of England seems disconnected from the country and its mission. He remarked on the institution’s duty to defend the Protestant Reformed religion and seemed puzzled as to how honoring a radical Muslim cleric aligns with that goal.

In a striking comment, Alejandro Sanchez from the National Secular Society characterized the award as “obscene,” stating it illustrated poor judgment and disrespected the memories of 9/11 victims and their families. According to him, interfaith discussions shouldn’t excuse support for extremist views.

In a statement released as the award was rescinded, Lambeth Palace did not apologize but acknowledged that the review of past comments made by Imam Ashrafi led them to rethink the honor. The award has since been withdrawn.