by Martin Beckford, Daily Mail
The Archbishop of Canterbury has been forced to withdraw an award she gave to a Muslim cleric on the anniversary of 9/11 after it emerged he had once praised Osama Bin Laden.
The Most Rev Sarah Mullally presented the prize for ‘Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation’ to Tahir Ashrafi on the same day that the world marked 25 years since the terror attacks on America.
But she faced a major backlash after it emerged that the group of Islamic scholars Mr Ashrafi chairs in Pakistan had previously given its highest honour to the Al Qaeda chief.
His Pakistan Ulema Council gave Bin Laden a religious title meaning ‘Sword of Allah’ in retaliation for Britain awarding a knighthood to Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie.
Mr Ashrafi said in June 2007: ‘We are pleased to award the title of Saifullah to Osama bin Laden after the British government’s decision to bestow the title of “Sir” on blasphemer Rushdie. This is the highest title for a Muslim warrior.’
He added: ‘If a blasphemer can be given the title ‘Sir’ by the West despite the fact that he’s hurt the feelings of Muslims, then a mujahid who has been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans and British must be given the lofty title of Islam, Saifullah.’
After his comments were circulated online on Thursday, the Archbishop faced calls to apologise and meet victims of terrorism to understand the hurt she has caused.
Then at 6pm Lambeth Palace said in a statement that it had withdrawn the award – yet continued to praise the interfaith work carried out by Mr Ashrafi.
Read also: Dame Mullally, and her Catholic prize for Bin Laden’s Terror Imam from Gavin Ashenden
Giving a Bin Laden apologist an interfaith award on 9/11? Only the Church of England could be this absurd by Mike Judge, Evangelical Times
Statement from the Women’s Policy Centre
and from the National Secular Society
Further coverage:
Archbishop gave award on 11 Sep anniversary to cleric who praised Bin Laden, Telegraph
Archbishop withdraws award from Muslim cleric who praised Bin Laden – BBC News
Archbishop retracts cleric’s awa,rd over Osama Bin Laden comments, The Times
Archbishop withdraws award from Muslim cleric who praised Osama bin Laden | ITV News
Lambeth Palace withdraws cleric’s interfaith award over bin Laden praise | Fox News
Church rescinds honour for cleric who praised Bin Laden, awarded on 9/11 anniversary – Jewish News
Lambeth Palace revokes award to Muslim cleric over Osama bin Laden remarks | The Independent
Lambeth Palace revokes cleric’s award over ‘obscene’ Osama bin Laden remarks | News UK | Metro News
Archbishop awarded Islamic scholar who praised Bin Laden | Politics | News | Express.co.uk