A Withdrawn Honour: Archbishop of Canterbury Rescinds Interfaith Award to Muslim Cleric Over Past Remarks

The Archbishop of Canterbury has withdrawn an interfaith award given to a Pakistani Muslim cleric just a week after presenting it, following scrutiny of comments he made in the past. Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi was awarded the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation on September 11, but after photos from the ceremony went viral, Conservative MP Nick Timothy highlighted earlier remarks attributed to him—including a 2007 Reuters report quoting him describing Osama bin Laden as a “Sword of God,” and a 2014 Dawn article in which he defended Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Following an “urgent review,” Lambeth Palace said on Thursday, “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to light that have led Lambeth Palace to reconsider this award, and we can now confirm today that the award has been withdrawn.”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 Pakistan Ulema Council, which Ashrafi chairs, said before the withdrawal that his remarks had been “taken out of context,” insisting his “longstanding record against terrorism and violent extremism should be considered.” Supporters point to his record on interfaith relations, including his defence of Rimsha Masih, a young Christian girl imprisoned on blasphemy charges in 2012, whom he called a “daughter of the nation.” Despite the withdrawal, Ashrafi’s social media accounts highlighted a separate “global peace award” presented to him by the Church of Pakistan on Thursday. The episode underscores the delicate balance faith leaders must navigate when engaging in interfaith dialogue, where past statements can resurface to complicate present efforts at reconciliation. It also raises important questions about vetting and due diligence in interfaith awards, and the challenge of honoring individuals whose records contain both commendable actions and deeply troubling remarks.