Archbishop of Canterbury revokes award for Islamic cleric who praised 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden

You are about to be charged £0.00* *Your gift has been applied Thank you for subscribing! Archbishop of Canterbury revokes award for Islamic cleric who praised 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden The cleric was handed the award on the atrocity's 25th anniversary The fearless champion of Britain, its voices and its values. Join the fight for free speech and fearless journalism. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Community Rules. Don't Miss Most Read Latest The office of the Archbishop of Canterbury has revoked an award to an Islamic cleric who praised 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden. Dame Sarah Mullally bestowed the honour on Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi last Friday, on the atrocity's 25th anniversary. In 2007, as head of the Pakistan Ulema Council group of Islamic clerics and scholars, the cleric gave the terrorist a title of "Saifullah" for "serving Muslims by waging jihad against infidels". Earlier today, the office said it was "urgently reviewing" the award before withdrawing the honour altogether. A caption with a picture of Mr Ashrafi accepting the award said he was being praised for his "outstanding work as an ambassador of interfaith harmony in Pakistan". The National Secular Society (NSS) hit out at the award presentation, calling it "obscene, and almost beyond parody". Lambeth Palace said: "Previous comments made by Imam Ashrafi have come to light that have led Lambeth Palace to reconsider this award and we can now confirm today that the award has been withdrawn." In a statement, a spokesman for Mr Ashrafi said his remarks were being reported "without their proper context". The cleric was handed the award on the atrocity's 25th anniversary |PA Mr Ashrafi's controversial comments 19 years on from the September 11 attacks came during Pakistan protests against Satanic Verses author, Salman Rushdie, being given a knighthood in the UK. Mr Ashrafi said he was "giving an example" at the time to show the similiarity of offence to the Muslim community by awarding Mr Rushdie. He said the title had not, in reality, been given to Bin Laden, with his spokesman insisting they were presented "without their proper context". His spokesman said: "His comparison was not an endorsement of Bin Laden. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: It was Dame Sarah's first time presenting the awards |PA "It was made in the context of explaining the hurt felt by many Muslims over the British honour given to Salman Rushdie. "His longstanding record against terrorism and violent extremism should be considered when assessing such remarks." Upon the award's withdrawal, NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "We welcome the withdrawal of this award, but it is astonishing that it was given in the first place – on the anniversary of 9/11, no less. "This episode reveals not only appallingly poor judgement and inadequate due diligence, but a dangerous naivety about the religious figures legitimised through interfaith engagement. "A Church capable of such a serious failure of judgement should not enjoy constitutional privilege, including 26 bishops making our laws. "It is time the Church of England was disestablished." Lambeth Palace said Mr Ashrafi's award had been presented "for Imam Ashrafi’s longstanding support for religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly the Christian community – support that is valued by many Christians in Pakistan including its Anglican Church". The statement added: "It is a longstanding principle of interfaith dialogue and co-operation that we must engage with one another across deeply-held differences, and that remains the case." However, after the comments came to light, Mr Ashrafi was informed the award was being snatched back.