Lambeth Palace Withdraws Award to Cleric Over Osama bin Laden Remarks
Lambeth Palace Withdraws Award to Cleric Over Osama bin Laden Remarks
Lambeth Palace controversially revokes an award from a Muslim cleric over past remarks about Osama bin Laden. The decision, made on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, sparks widespread debate.
Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, has withdrawn an award presented to Muslim cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi following the emergence of controversial past comments regarding Osama bin Laden. The award, intended to recognise Ashrafi's work in reconciliation and interfaith co-operation, was controversially handed out on Friday, which marked the 25th anniversary of the devastating 9/11 terror attacks.
The ceremony saw Dame Sarah Mullally present the honour to Mr.
Ashrafi, who is the head of the Pakistan Ulema Council group of Islamic clerics and scholars.
The controversy stems from remarks made by Ashrafi in 2007, where he reportedly pledged to bestow the title "Saifullah" (Sword of God) upon Osama bin Laden for "serving Muslims by waging jihad against infidels." These comments, made public after the award presentation, immediately drew fierce criticism, particularly given the timing on the anniversary of an attack orchestrated by bin Laden that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. The National Secular Society (NSS) was quick to brand the initial award presentation as "obscene, and almost beyond parody," expressing astonishment that such an honour could be given, especially on 9/11.
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans criticised what he called "appallingly poor judgment and inadequate due diligence" by Lambeth Palace. In response to the outcry, Lambeth Palace issued a statement confirming the withdrawal:
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to light that have led Lambeth Palace to reconsider this award and we can now confirm today that the award has been withdrawn.
The Palace had initially stated the award was for Ashrafi's “longstanding support for religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly the Christian community.” A spokesperson for Mr.
Ashrafi defended his remarks, stating they were being reported "without their proper context." They clarified that his 2007 comments on bin Laden were made during protests in Pakistan against British knighthood for Salman Rushdie, and were intended to illustrate the equivalence in offence felt by the Muslim community. The spokesperson insisted that the title was never actually bestowed upon bin Laden, and highlighted Ashrafi's "longstanding record against terrorism and violent extremism." However, this explanation has not quelled the criticism surrounding the initial decision to grant the award.
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