Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council and Coordinator of the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee, was honored on Friday with the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation. The award ceremony took place in the Great Hall of the historic Lambeth Palace in London.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, presented the prestigious award to Ashrafi in recognition of his decades-long dedication to peace, reconciliation, moderation, and fostering harmony both within and between faith communities. His unwavering advocacy for minority rights, peaceful coexistence, and his firm opposition to extremism, terrorism, and sectarian violence were also highlighted.
The Hubert Walter Award is part of the Lambeth Awards, bestowed by the Archbishop of Canterbury to honor exceptional contributions to reconciliation and interfaith collaboration. Ashrafi was among several distinguished figures recognized across five categories this year, underscoring his significant impact on religious diplomacy and peacebuilding at an international level.
Throughout his career, Ashrafi has worked tirelessly to bridge divides among religious and sectarian groups, promoting mutual respect and defending vulnerable communities. His efforts have consistently reflected a commitment to peaceful coexistence while maintaining his Islamic identity.
Notably, Ashrafi has also been a recipient of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Global Peace Award, which acknowledges his contributions to harmony and cooperation within the Muslim world. These two accolades—the OIC award and the Hubert Walter Award—represent distinct international recognitions, affirming his influence both in the Muslim community and the broader global context.
His peace advocacy journey spans from Pakistan to Makkah and beyond, carrying a message of moderation, brotherhood, tolerance, and dialogue. He has been a vocal opponent of religious hatred, extremism, terrorism, and sectarian conflict.
These international honors bring pride not only to Ashrafi but also to Pakistan and the wider Muslim world, emphasizing the importance of religious harmony, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence on a global stage.
In addition to his leadership roles in Pakistan, Ashrafi serves as a Member of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League, Secretary-General of the International Tazeem-e-Haramain Sharifain Council, and a Member of the International Muslim Forum. He is actively involved with numerous international Islamic and interfaith organizations, further amplifying his impact on global religious cooperation.
