Archbishop of Canterbury revokes award from Pakistani cleric

Archbishop of Canterbury Lambeth Awards interfaith dialogue Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi religious controversy

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has revoked the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation from Pakistani cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi. The award was originally presented on September 11, 2026, at Lambeth Palace, recognizing Ashrafi for his work promoting religious tolerance and supporting religious minorities in Pakistan.

The decision to rescind the honor followed the resurfacing of past comments made by Ashrafi. In 2007, he reportedly praised Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, describing him as someone who had ‘been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans, and British’ and suggesting he deserved the title ‘Saifullah,’ or ‘sword of God.’

Lambeth Palace issued a statement confirming the withdrawal, noting that while interfaith dialogue remains a core principle, the revealed comments led to a reconsideration of the award. Ashrafi, who serves as chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, has also faced criticism regarding his support for Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.