UK's Lambeth Palace withdraws Tahir Ashrafi award on same day over past bin Laden remarks

LONDON: Lambeth Palace, the London residence and office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, has withdrawn the Hubert Walter Award presented to Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi over previous remarks about Osama bin Laden.

Ashrafi, the religious scholar, was given an award last Friday, on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, by Dame Sarah Mullally for reconciliation and interfaith co-operation, as reported by Geo News. On the same day, Lambeth Palace announced the withdrawal of the Hubert Walter Award, Church of Pakistan Archbishop Dr Azad Marshall presented Ashrafi with a “Global Peace Award”.

In 2007, Ashrafi said he would give then-Al-Qaeda chief bin Laden – the orchestrator of the September 11 terror attacks – the title Saifullah, which means ‘Sword of God’, in protest at Britain awarding writer Salman Rushdie, who wrote a blasphemous book, a knighthood.

A caption accompanying an image of Ashrafi receiving his award last week at the Lambeth Palace said he was being recognised “for his outstanding work as an ambassador of interfaith harmony in Pakistan”.

The National Secular Society (NSS) branded the award presentation “obscene, and almost beyond parody”, having taken place on the anniversary of the terror attack that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people, including 67 British citizens.

Lambeth Palace said: “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to light that have led Lambeth Palace to reconsider this award and we can now confirm today that the award has been withdrawn.”

Lambeth Palace said the award had been 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”.

The statement added: “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.”

But given the “previous comments” the Palace said had “come to light”, Ashrafi was contacted to make him aware his award had been withdrawn.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Ashrafi said his remarks were being reported “without their proper context”.

Ashrafi said he had been “giving an example” at the time to demonstrate the equivalence in offence caused to the Muslim community by the awarding of an honour to Rushdie.

He insisted the title had not actually been bestowed on bin Laden.

His spokesperson said: “Regarding Osama bin Laden, Ashrafi’s remarks have been presented without their proper context. His comparison was not an endorsement of bin Laden; it was made in the context of explaining the hurt felt by many Muslims over the British honour given to Salman Rushdie. His longstanding record against terrorism and violent extremism should be considered when assessing such remarks.”

Alejandro Sanchez, an NSS spokesperson, said: “It is obscene, and almost beyond parody, that the Archbishop of Canterbury has awarded an Osama Bin Laden apologist an interfaith award on the anniversary of 9/11. This demonstrates appallingly poor judgement and is an insult to the victims of 9/11 and their families. Interfaith engagement must not mean overlooking support for extremism. The Archbishop of Canterbury should explain what due diligence was undertaken, whether those responsible knew about his actions, and whether the award will now be withdrawn.”

Ashrafi was one of 27 people presented with a Lambeth Award last week, recognising recipients’ “extraordinary contributions to the Church of England, the Anglican Communion and wider society”.

It was the first time Dame Sarah had presented the Lambeth Awards since taking office earlier this year.