Archbishop withdraws interfaith award after praise for Bin Laden revealed

The Archbishop of Canterbury has revoked an award given to Pakistani cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after reports emerged that he had previously praised Osama Bin Laden, Lambeth Palace said following a backlash over the cleric’s past comments.

Ashrafi received the reconciliation and interfaith cooperation honour from Dame Sarah Mullally during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The Archbishop’s office initially described him as an ambassador of interfaith harmony in Pakistan known for promoting religious tolerance.

Media reports cited remarks from 2007 in which Ashrafi reportedly praised Bin Laden as someone who had “been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans and British” and said he would give Bin Laden the title Saifullah, meaning “Sword of God.” Ashrafi told the BBC that those comments had been “totally taken out of context” and described the ensuing backlash as “an unfair campaign.”

Lambeth Palace’s citation for the award also noted Ashrafi’s intervention in the 2012 Rimsha Masih case, a young Christian girl in Pakistan who was falsely accused of blasphemy. At the same time, Ashrafi has expressed support for Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, saying they “save lives,” comments that contrast with human rights criticism of the legislation.

Human Rights Watch has said the blasphemy laws perpetuate religious discrimination and are used to target the poor and minorities. The organisation noted that about 2,000 people have been prosecuted under the laws since the late 1980s, disproportionately affecting Christians and Ahmadis as well as some Sunni Muslims.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The revocation follows media revelations about Ashrafi’s 2007 remarks praising Osama Bin Laden and the subsequent public backlash. Lambeth Palace initially honoured Ashrafi for his interfaith work and cited his role in the Rimsha Masih case. Human Rights Watch commentary cited in reporting highlights longstanding criticism of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and their impact on minorities.

Quick Look: What You Need to Know

• The Archbishop of Canterbury withdrew an interfaith award given to Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after his past praise for Osama Bin Laden surfaced.
• Ashrafi had been honoured for reconciliation and for intervening in the 2012 Rimsha Masih blasphemy case, while he has also expressed support for Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
• Human Rights Watch has criticised Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, noting around 2,000 prosecutions since the late 1980s and disproportionate effects on minorities.