Archbishop Withdraws Controversial Award
6 outlets
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7 reporters
- Martin Beckford PolicyDaily Mail
- Y. Áine FoxEvening Standard
- Aleem MaqboolBBC
- Guy AdamsDaily Mail
- AFPNational Post
- Michael SinkewiczFox News
- Anthony BlairNew York Post
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Archbishop Withdraws Controversial Award. (2026, October 13). The Aporia. https://the-aporia.com/event/15888
“Archbishop Withdraws Controversial Award.” The Aporia, 13 Oct. 2026, https://the-aporia.com/event/15888.
“Archbishop Withdraws Controversial Award.” The Aporia, October 13, 2026. https://the-aporia.com/event/15888.
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In 2007, as head of the Pakistan Ulema Council group of Islamic clerics and scholars, Ashrafi said he would give bin Laden – the orchestrator of the September 11 terror attacks – the title Saifullah, which means “Sword of God”, for “serving Muslims by waging jihad against infidels”.
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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 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.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Mr Ashrafi said his remarks were being reported “without their proper context”.
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.”
What each outlet says
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Archbishop Sarah Mullally awarded Pakistani Muslim cleric Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Co-operation at Lambeth Palace on Friday. The ceremony drew criticism when it was revealed that Ashrafi had previously referred to suicide attacks against NATO troops as "lawful" and praised Osama bin Laden, calling the perpetrators of the October 7 attacks "freedom fighters."…
Muslim cleric given award by Archbishop called the butchers of October 7 'freedom fighters', said suicide attacks against Nato troops were 'lawful' - and that men could take four wives at once without permission →3 articles from Daily Mail on this storyOn September 11, 2021, Imam Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi received an interfaith co-operation award from Lambeth Palace in London. However, the award was later withdrawn due to his past remarks supporting Osama bin Laden in 2007. The National Secular Society criticized this decision, calling it "obscene," especially given its timing on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Ashrafi’s spokesperson defended the…
Lambeth Palace withdraws award to Muslim cleric over Osama bin Laden remarks →2 articles from Evening Standard on this storyThe Archbishop of Canterbury withdrew an award given last week to Muslim cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after it was revealed that Ashrafi had praised Osama bin Laden in 2007. The controversy arose when it came to light that Ashrafi referred to Bin Laden as someone who "had been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans and British," despite his office's claim that he was honored for promoting…
Archbishop of Canterbury withdraws award from Muslim cleric who praised Osama bin Laden →The Archbishop of Canterbury’s office in London withdrew an interfaith award given to Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, a Muslim cleric from Pakistan, after it was revealed that Ashrafi had praised Osama bin Laden in 2007. The award, presented on September 11, was initially given for Ashrafi’s work supporting religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly Christians. However, the decision to rescind the award…
Head of Church of England rescinds interfaith award given to Muslim cleric who praised bin Laden →Lambeth Palace withdrew the Hubert Walter Award from Muslim cleric Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after discovering he had previously praised Osama bin Laden. The award was given on September 2nd during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, but it was revoked Thursday when his past comments came to light. While Ashrafi claimed these statements were taken out of context and…
Archbishop of Canterbury withdraws award from Muslim cleric after past Osama bin Laden praise surfaces →Archbishop Sarah Mullally revoked an award she gave to Pakistani cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after his past comments praising Osama bin Laden resurfaced. The event occurred on the 25th anniversary of September 11 during a ceremony at Lambeth Palace, where Ashrafi was honored for promoting religious tolerance. However, it emerged that Ashrafi had previously referred to bin Laden as deserving of the…
First female Archbishop of Canterbury revokes award she gave on 9/11 to Muslim cleric who praised bin Laden →Analysis
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- 17 Sep
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”.
Coverage 9 articles
Suggested from 6 outlets: the fullest account of the event and its publisher is declared as reporting rather than commentary.
21 Sep First female Archbishop of Canterbury revokes award she gave on 9/11 to Muslim cleric who praised bin LadenArchbishop Sarah Mullally revoked an award she gave to Pakistani cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after his past comments praising Osama bin Laden resurfaced. The event occurred on the 25th anniversary of September 11 during a ceremony at Lambeth Palace, where Ashrafi was honored for promoting religious tolerance. However, it emerged that Ashrafi had previously referred to bin Laden as deserving of the…New York Post
18 Sep Archbishop of Canterbury withdraws award from Muslim cleric after past Osama bin Laden praise surfacesLambeth Palace withdrew the Hubert Walter Award from Muslim cleric Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after discovering he had previously praised Osama bin Laden. The award was given on September 2nd during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, but it was revoked Thursday when his past comments came to light. While Ashrafi claimed these statements were taken out of context and…Fox News
18 Sep Head of Church of England rescinds interfaith award given to Muslim cleric who praised bin LadenThe Archbishop of Canterbury’s office in London withdrew an interfaith award given to Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, a Muslim cleric from Pakistan, after it was revealed that Ashrafi had praised Osama bin Laden in 2007. The award, presented on September 11, was initially given for Ashrafi’s work supporting religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly Christians. However, the decision to rescind the award…National Post
18 Sep Muslim cleric given award by Archbishop called the butchers of October 7 'freedom fighters', said suicide attacks against Nato troops were 'lawful' - and that men could take four wives at once without permissionArchbishop Sarah Mullally awarded Pakistani Muslim cleric Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Co-operation at Lambeth Palace on Friday. The ceremony drew criticism when it was revealed that Ashrafi had previously referred to suicide attacks against NATO troops as "lawful" and praised Osama bin Laden, calling the perpetrators of the October 7 attacks "freedom fighters."…Daily Mail
17 Sep Archbishop of Canterbury withdraws award from Muslim cleric who praised Osama bin LadenThe Archbishop of Canterbury withdrew an award given last week to Muslim cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after it was revealed that Ashrafi had praised Osama bin Laden in 2007. The controversy arose when it came to light that Ashrafi referred to Bin Laden as someone who "had been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans and British," despite his office's claim that he was honored for promoting…BBC
17 Sep Archbishop of Canterbury forced to withdraw controversial award given on anniversary of 9/11 to Muslim cleric who praised Bin LadenThe 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…Daily Mail
17 Sep Lambeth Palace withdraws award to Muslim cleric over Osama bin Laden remarksOn September 11, 2021, Imam Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi received an interfaith co-operation award from Lambeth Palace in London. However, the award was later withdrawn due to his past remarks supporting Osama bin Laden in 2007. The National Secular Society criticized this decision, calling it "obscene," especially given its timing on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Ashrafi’s spokesperson defended the…Evening Standard- 17 Sep Lambeth Place withdraws award to Muslim cleric over Osama bin Laden remarksLambeth Palace has withdrawn a recent award given to Pakistani cleric Hafiz Mohammad Kifayatullah Ashrafi after it was revealed that in 2007, he stated he would grant Osama bin Laden an honorary title for waging jihad against non-Muslims. The withdrawal came following criticism from the National Secular Society and amidst controversy over the timing of the award, which coincided with the anniversary of the September…Evening Standard
17 Sep Archbishop of Canterbury under fire after giving 'Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation' award to Muslim cleric who praised Bin Laden - on anniversary of 9/11Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally awarded Tahir Ashrafi the 'Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation' prize on September 11, the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Ashrafi's Pakistan Ulema Council previously honored Osama Bin Laden with a religious title in retaliation for Salman Rushdie receiving a knighthood from Britain. Critics are demanding Mullally apologize and meet with terrorism victims, while some…Daily Mail
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Built 2026-10-13 from 9 articles. Every sentence on this page is quoted from the linked article; nothing was written by a model except the Summary and the items marked AI, which cite their sources, and the questions and labels under "Disputed". Photos are from the outlets that covered the story, never from articles our check marks sensitive.