The Archbishop of Canterbury withdrew an award she had presented to Muslim cleric Tahir Ashrafi on the anniversary of 9/11 after it was revealed that Ashrafi’s group in Pakistan once honored Osama Bin Laden. The controversy arose when it became known that Ashrafi and his Pakistan Ulema Council awarded Bin Laden a religious title in response to Britain granting Salman Rushdie a knighthood. After facing criticism, the Archbishop's office announced the withdrawal of the award but noted their continued support for Ashrafi’s interfaith work.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, awarded Tahir Ashrafi a prize for "Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation" on September 11, 2023, exactly 25 years after the 9/11 attacks. However, it was later revealed that in 2007, Mr. Ashrafi's Pakistan Ulema Council had honored Osama Bin Laden with a religious title meaning "Sword of Allah" as retaliation for Salman Rushdie being knighted by Britain. This led to significant backlash from critics and the award was subsequently withdrawn by Lambeth Palace. The National Secular Society called the initial award ceremony "obscene." Mr. Ashrafi's office maintained that his comments were taken out of context, stating they came during protests in Pakistan against Rushdie's knighthood.
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The Archbishop of Canterbury has been forced to withdraw an award she gave to a Muslim cleric on the anniversary of 9/11 after it emerged he had once praised Osama Bin Laden.
The Most Rev Sarah Mullally presented the prize for ‘Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation’ to Tahir Ashrafi on the same day that the world marked 25 years since the terror attacks on America.
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world → see → America
But she faced a major backlash after it emerged that the group of Islamic scholars Mr Ashrafi chairs in Pakistan had previously given its highest honour to the Al Qaeda chief.
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Ashrafi → face → chief
His Pakistan Ulema Council gave Bin Laden a religious title meaning ‘Sword of Allah’ in retaliation for Britain awarding a knighthood to Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie.
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Britain → give → Rushdie
Mr Ashrafi said in June 2007: ‘We are pleased to award the title of Saifullah to Osama bin Laden after the British government’s decision to bestow the title of “Sir” on blasphemer Rushdie.
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We → say → Rushdie
He added: ‘If a blasphemer can be given the title ‘Sir’ by the West despite the fact that he’s hurt the feelings of Muslims, then a mujahid who has been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans and British must be given the lofty title of Islam, Saifullah.’
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who → add → Islam
Tahir Ashrafi receiving his controversial award from the Archbishop of Canterbury last Friday
After his comments were circulated online on Thursday, the Archbishop faced calls to apologise and meet victims of terrorism to understand the hurt she has caused.
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she → receive → hurt
Then at 6pm Lambeth Palace said in a statement that it had withdrawn the award – yet continued to praise the interfaith work carried out by Mr Ashrafi.
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it → say → Ashrafi
It said: ‘Last week the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation was presented to Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi in a ceremony at Lambeth Palace.
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Award → say → Palace
The award was 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.
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that → give → Church
‘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.
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that → engage → differences
However, 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.
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award → make → award
We have contacted Imam Ashrafi to make him aware of this decision.'
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him → contact → decision
It added: 'We continue to pray for the Christian community in Pakistan, and for all those working for interfaith dialogue and harmony in Pakistan and around the world.’
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We → add → world
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy, who had exposed the cleric’s previous remarks, said afterwards: ‘It’s right that this award - given to an imam who praised Osama Bin Laden for targeting Brits - has been withdrawn.
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who → expose → Brits
‘The Archbishop of Canterbury needs to learn now and stop giving succour to those who would destroy us.
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who → need → us
The progressive dance with Islamism is dangerous and must end.’
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dance → end → Islamism
The National Secular Society said: 'We welcome the withdrawal of this award, but it is astonishing that it was given in the first place – on the anniversary of 9/11, no less.
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it → say → 9/11
This episode reveals not only appallingly poor judgement and inadequate due diligence, but a dangerous naivety about the religious figures legitimised through interfaith engagement.'
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episode → reveal → engagement
Questions are also being asked about why Lambeth Palace, which put photos of the ceremony online, did not name Mr Ashrafi’s veiled wife even though she was presented with the award alongside her husband.
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she → ask → husband
Tory MP Neil O’Brien said: ‘I think the niqab is oppressive and makes women second class citizens.
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women → say → ?
It is clearly not required in Islam.
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It → require → Islam
While this is a free country, it should be discouraged at all levels.’
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it → discourage → levels
Mr Ashrafi had served as ‘religious harmony’ envoy to Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan and had met former Archbishop Justin Welby on his trip to Islamabad in 2022.
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Ashrafi → serve → 2022
After receiving his award last week the cleric said Islam was a religion of peace, security and love, and called for action to ‘protect minorities and unite against extremism and terrorism’.
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Islam → receive → extremism
The Aporia
