The Most Rev Sarah Mullally presented the prize for ‘Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation’ to Tahir Ashrafi on Friday as the world marked 25 years since the terror attacks on America.
She gave him the award in a ceremony at Lambeth Palace even though the group of Islamic scholars he chairs in Pakistan had previously given an 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 Salman Rushdie, author of the Satanic Verses.
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.’
The Archbishop, the first female spiritual head of the Church of England, is now facing calls to apologise – and meet victims of terrorism to understand the hurt she has caused.
Travis Frain, a survivor of the 2017 Westminster Bridge terror attack and founder of the Resilience in Unity Project support project, said: ‘Giving an award for “interfaith and reconciliation” to a man who honoured Osama Bin Laden, the architect of misery for so many of all faiths and a man responsible for thousands of deaths, shows a grave misjudgement by the Church – made even more egregious by the fact that this award was given on the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
‘I would urge the Archbishop to meet with victims of terrorism to appreciate the hurt that this award may have caused, and to understand the real work being led by hundreds of brave survivors across the country to bring people together of different faiths and backgrounds under the banner of preventing the spread of radicalisation – far apart from those would seek to honour the perpetrators of these heinous attacks.’
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy said: ‘The naivety of the Archbishop in presenting an award to someone who openly praised Osama bin Laden is staggering - and on the anniversary of 9/11, too.
‘Our leaders must face up to the reality that not all cultures are based on the same foundations as ours, and not all share our desire for co-operation and freedom.’
Tim Dieppe, Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern, said: ‘The absurdity of this beggars belief. How can a Christian leader give an award for reconciliation to someone who has honoured Osama Bin Laden? To someone who supports the draconian blasphemy laws in Pakistan which are a source of persecution of Christians? Mullaly is clearly uninformed about both Ashrafi and about Islam.
‘The only justification for meeting such a man is to pressure him about the treatment of Christians in Pakistan. There is absolutely no justification for giving him an award. Mullaly should issue an immediate apology to Christians who are being persecuted in Pakistan. She should call for an end to the draconian blasphemy laws there.’
The National Secular Society said: 'It is obscene, and almost beyond parody, that the archbishop of Canterbury has awarded an Osama Bin Laden apologist an interfaith award on the anniversary of 9/11. This demonstrates appallingly poor judgement and is an insult to the victims of 9/11 and their families.
'Interfaith engagement must not mean overlooking support for extremism. The archbishop of Canterbury should explain what due diligence was undertaken, whether those responsible knew about his actions, and whether the award will now be withdrawn.'
Questions are also being asked about why Lambeth Palace, which put photos of the ceremony online, did not name Mr Ashrafi’s veiled wife even though she was presented with the award alongside her husband.
A caption on its Flickr page stated: ‘Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi and his wife are presented with The Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation by The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury for his outstanding work as an ambassador of interfaith harmony in Pakistan at The Lambeth Awards 2026 held at Lambeth Palace.’
Tory MP Neil O’Brien said: ‘I think the niqab is oppressive and makes women second class citizens. It is clearly not required in Islam. While this is a free country, it should be discouraged at all levels.’
Lambeth Palace said: 'We are aware of comments circulating online attributed to Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi and we are urgently reviewing this matter.'