Archbishopric of Canterbury Revokes Award Given to Muslim Cleric
The interfaith dialogue award presented to Pakistani cleric Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi has been revoked after his past praise of Osama bin Laden came to light.
The Archbishopric of Canterbury announced that it has withdrawn the interfaith dialogue award given to Pakistani cleric Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi following the emergence of his past praising remarks about Osama bin Laden.
Reason for the Withdrawal of the Award
Lambeth Palace announced that the award given in light of previous statements was reassessed and the decision was communicated to the cleric in question.
The institution stated that the importance of interfaith dialogue and cooperation remains intact, but expressions from the past made this step mandatory.
The Ceremony and Initial Reason
The Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation was presented to Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi at Lambeth Palace.
The original reason for granting the award was explained as the cleric's long-standing support for religious minorities, particularly Christians in Pakistan.
Past Statements
According to BBC reports, Ashrafi had defended in 2007 that Osama bin Laden fought for Islam against the Russians, Americans, and British.
The cleric had also noted that he had offered to bestow upon bin Laden the title 'Saifullah', which means 'Sword of God'.
The Cleric's Defense
Ashrafi stated in an interview with BBC that his words were completely taken out of context and that this situation constituted an unfair campaign.
He also claimed that the backlash was related to the discomfort felt by Muslims over the British government's awarding of a knighthood to Salman Rushdie.