Crux

A prominent former Anglican bishop who is now Catholic is warning that Christians in Pakistan could face a backlash after the Anglican Church awarded an Islamic cleric with a prize for interreligious cooperation, then rescinded the award after the recipient’s praise for Osama bin Laden and Pakistan’s blasphemy laws came to light. The controversy erupted late last week after incendiary comments by Pakistani Muslim cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi resurfaced, leading many to ask why Church of Pakistan’s Moderator Bishop Azad Marshall gave him the award in the first place. Ashrafi received the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation 2026 from Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally in London on Sept 11 of this year, the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the United States, leading to sustained scrutiny and intense media pressure. Lambeth Palace announced the withdrawal of the award on Sept. 17, after the comments came to light, which also included praise for suicide bombers and support for Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Monsignor Michael Nazir-Ali, the Pakistan-born former Anglican bishop of Rochester, told Crux Now the row could have repercussions for Pakistani Christians because withdrawing the award could be seen as “dishonor of Islam, and even of the country.” “What I’m hearing from church leaders in Pakistan is that they are worried that it will result in a backlash, certainly damaging to the relationship. This sort of thing can be seen as a dishonor of Islam, and even of the country,” he said. “To be given something, and then have it taken back after all of that publicity. They are worried: that I can definitely say,” he added. The main comments that caused a stir were made by Ashrafi in 2007 after Salman Rushdie, who wrote The Satantic Verses which caused a lot of offense to Muslims, received a British knighthood. Ashrafi said the Pakistan Ulema Council would give bin Laden the title “Saifullah”, meaning “Sword of God.” He also called bin Laden a “mujahid” – a holy warrior – who had fought for Islam against Britons, Americans, and Russians. Ashrafi claimed his remarks had been taken out of context. Nazir-Ali questioned why there “wasn’t due diligence done” but did concede that “in some cases he [Ashrafi] has helped the Christian community.” Nazir-Ali said that sometimes major Christian churches such as the Anglican and Catholic churches didn’t always fully grasp the nature of Islamic violence. “Both churches look at the best side of things which is a good thing. But at the same time we have to be realistic as not everyone is the same. There are dangerous people around, they are violent,” he said. The full interview with Crux Now and Nazir-Ali is below. What has the reaction been among the Anglican Church? How did you react? It’s too early to say what their reaction has been as it’s only yesterday morning that people have been hearing about it. As far as I’m concerned, the main question is why wasn’t there due diligence done? He wasn’t the only one who got the award; there were several there, so what else is waiting for us? Due diligence would have very quickly revealed his views, as it did to the press. What sort of man is he? Why did they choose him? He’s praised Osama bin Laden and his cohorts, and he has been a supporter of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan on the grounds that they prevent mob violence, but that isn’t actually the case because the promulgation of these laws has led to an increase in mob violence. There’s more since these laws were made. Having said that, it has to be admitted that in some cases he has helped the Christian community. In the case of Rimsha Masih in Islamabad – a young girl with Down Syndrome who was accused of blasphemy – he played a vital role in getting her off as the courts ruled she was unfit to stand trial. So there is that. The question now is that with the withdrawal of the award, what repercussions will this have for Christians in Pakistan. Christians are saying we weren’t consulted before it was given and we’ve not been consulted now. He’s been a figure in interfaith dialogue and he’s helped prevent violence. He was helpful in that case which probably brought him to their attention. I believe the last Archbishop of Canterbury may have met him too. Has the reaction been fair? It has been: Why was this not known? And if it was, why was it given? Do you think the Anglican and Catholic Churches understand the nature of Islamic violence? Both Churches look at the best side of things, which is a good thing, but at the same time we have to be realistic as not everyone is the same. There are dangerous people around, they are violent. Recently, 27 churches were destroyed [in Pakistan –Ed.]. So we can’t be unaware of them. RELATED: Assaults on Christians over blasphemy charge latest twist in Pakistan’s religious tensions How would you suggest something like this doesn’t happen again? Due diligence. We now have access to things we didn’t do before. So we need to do due diligence. There’s really no excuse. It’s not just the award; it’s the picture of him with his wife in the full niqab. What is the situation for Pakistani Christians at the moment? It remains serious. They are vulnerable to attack at any time. The blasphemy laws are being used against them and people attack them based on unfounded accusations. It’s been a dead hand on the community’s expression. It’s been a marginalization of the community in terms of social discrimination, and other things. These incidents will of course sharpen all of that. Is there a risk of a backlash? What I’m hearing from church leaders in Pakistan is that they are worried that it will result in a backlash, certainly damaging to the relationship. This sort of thing can be seen as a dishonour of Islam, and even of the country. To be given something, and then have it taken back after all of that publicity. They are worried: that I can definitely say. Is the western world doing enough for Pakistani Christians? People like ACN, Open Doors, Christian Solidarity are doing a lot. And the churches are much more aware of the issues to do with freedom of religion and belief in that region and throughout the world. What we need to do is address the question structurally. We need to tie aid to freedom of religion and belief. For instance, I used to be told that British education aid is religion blind. That means the majority benefits and the minority don’t get a look in. That has to be key to trading relationships with the EU or Britain. So, I think those are the kinds of things the West could be doing and it would have an effect on countries like Pakistan.

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