The Archbishop of Canterbury has withdrawn an award given to a Muslim cleric who praised Osama Bin Laden, citing comments that have come to light since the presentation. The move follows a backlash over remarks Ashrafi made in 2007, in which he defended Bin Laden as someone who had “been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans and British.”
The award for reconciliation and interfaith cooperation was presented to Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi by Dame Sarah Mullally last week, on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Lambeth Palace announced the withdrawal, saying “comments made by Imam Ashrafi have come to light that have led (us) to reconsider this award and we can now confirm that the award has been withdrawn.”
The Award and the Remarks
Ashrafi received the award for his work as an ambassador of interfaith harmony in Pakistan, where he is known for promoting religious tolerance. In presenting the award, the Archbishop’s office cited his intervention in the 2012 case of Rimsha Masih, a young Christian girl falsely accused of blasphemy.
The ceremony coincided with the anniversary of the attacks in the US, in which nearly 3,000 people were killed. Bin Laden was the architect of those attacks.
Ashrafi also reportedly said he would give Bin Laden the title Saifullah, which means “Sword of God.” He told the BBC his remarks had been “totally taken out of context.”
What Ashrafi Said About Bin Laden
In his 2007 comments, Ashrafi defended Bin Laden by comparing him to Sir Salman Rushdie, whose novel The Satanic Verses drew a knighthood in the UK. Ashrafi said he was speaking about Bin Laden in response to “the hurt felt by many Muslims” over that knighthood.
He argued that his remarks had been “totally taken out of context” and that the backlash against him had been “an unfair campaign.” But he also defended the comparison itself, saying he was only speaking about Bin Laden in the context of the hurt felt by Muslims over the knighthood.
“An unfair campaign” against him.
Criticism Beyond Bin Laden
Criticism of Ashrafi has extended beyond his comments about Bin Laden. His support for Pakistan’s blasphemy laws has drawn attention, given that those laws have led to an estimated 2,000 people being prosecuted since the late 1980s.
The laws disproportionately affect Pakistan’s minority Christians and Ahmadis, though many Sunni Muslims are caught up in them as well. Ashrafi has been supportive of the laws, claiming they “save lives” by stopping people from taking matters into their own hands.
Human Rights Watch disagreed. The organisation said last year that “the laws perpetuate religious discrimination and are used to target the poor and minorities in unlawful evictions and land grabs.” It has called on the Pakistani government to urgently reform the laws to prevent them “being weaponised to […] attack marginalised communities.”
The Withdrawal Statement
Lambeth Palace’s statement was brief and direct. It noted that the comments had come to light and that the decision to withdraw the award followed.
The Archbishop’s office had described Ashrafi’s work in Pakistan in glowing terms when presenting the award. Now the award is gone.
The Withdrawal and Its Context
The Archbishop’s withdrawal of the award reflects a reassessment of the circumstances around the award. Ashrafi’s defence of Bin Laden rested on a comparison with Rushdie, and he said he was only speaking about Bin Laden in the context of the hurt felt by Muslims over the knighthood.
The Archbishop’s office cited Ashrafi’s interfaith work when presenting the award. That citation now stands alongside his support for Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
The Question of Interfaith Harmony
The Archbishop’s office cited Ashrafi’s interfaith work when presenting the award. Those laws have been used to prosecute an estimated 2,000 people since the late 1980s, with minorities bearing the brunt of prosecutions.
Key Facts
- Ashrafi received the award for reconciliation and interfaith cooperation from Dame Sarah Mullally last week.
- The award was presented on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
- Ashrafi praised Bin Laden as someone who had “been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans and British.”
- He also reportedly said he would give Bin Laden the title Saifullah, meaning “Sword of God.”
- His 2007 remarks came in response to the knighthood awarded to Sir Salman Rushdie.
- Ashrafi has supported Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which have led to an estimated 2,000 prosecutions since the late 1980s.
- Human Rights Watch has called on the Pakistani government to urgently reform the laws.
The Archbishop’s withdrawal of the award reflects the tension between interfaith cooperation and support for laws that have been criticised by human rights organisations.
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