Lambeth Palace, the official residence and office of the Archbishop of Canterbury in London, has revoked the Hubert Walter Award previously granted to Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), following scrutiny of his past statements concerning Osama bin Laden.
Ashrafi, a noted religious scholar, was initially honoured last Friday—the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks—by Dame Sarah Mullally for his efforts in promoting reconciliation and interfaith cooperation. However, on the same day, Lambeth Palace announced the withdrawal of the award. Meanwhile, the Church of Pakistan’s Archbishop Dr Azad Marshall presented Ashrafi with a separate “Global Peace Award.”
In 2007, Ashrafi had controversially stated he would confer the title Saifullah, meaning ‘Sword of God,’ on bin Laden, then the leader of Al-Qaeda and the mastermind behind the 9/11 terror attacks. This declaration was made in protest against Britain’s decision to bestow a knighthood on author Salman Rushdie, whose book was considered blasphemous by many Muslims.
An image caption from last week’s award ceremony at Lambeth Palace described Ashrafi as being recognised “for his outstanding work as an ambassador of interfaith harmony in Pakistan.” However, the National Secular Society (NSS) condemned the award presentation as “obscene, and almost beyond parody,” especially given its timing on the anniversary of an attack that claimed nearly 3,000 lives, including 67 British citizens.
Lambeth Palace explained that the award had been initially granted in recognition of Ashrafi’s longstanding advocacy for religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly the Christian community, whose support is valued by many, including the Anglican Church in Pakistan. The Palace emphasized that interfaith dialogue requires engagement across deeply held differences, a principle that remains important.
Nevertheless, after the previous comments by Ashrafi resurfaced, Lambeth Palace reconsidered and confirmed the award’s withdrawal. Ashrafi was informed of this decision.
Responding to the controversy, a spokesperson for Ashrafi argued that his remarks had been taken out of context. Ashrafi clarified that his 2007 statement was intended as an example to illustrate the offense felt by the Muslim community over the British honour awarded to Rushdie, and that he never actually bestowed the title on bin Laden.
The spokesperson further stated that Ashrafi’s comments were not an endorsement of bin Laden but rather a reflection of the hurt caused by the Rushdie knighthood. They urged that Ashrafi’s long-standing opposition to terrorism and violent extremism be considered when evaluating his past remarks.
In a strong reaction, NSS spokesperson Alejandro Sanchez condemned the award, calling it “obscene” and “almost beyond parody” that the Archbishop of Canterbury would honour someone perceived as an apologist for Osama bin Laden on the anniversary of 9/11. Sanchez criticized the decision as a grave misjudgment and an insult to the victims and their families. He demanded clarity on the vetting process and whether the award would be permanently withdrawn.
Ashrafi was among 27 individuals who received Lambeth Awards last week, which acknowledge exceptional contributions to the Church of England, the Anglican Communion, and broader society. This ceremony marked the first time Dame Sarah Mullally presented the Lambeth Awards since assuming office earlier this year.
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