# Award Withdrawn After Cleric's Controversial Past | Belfast News

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/belfast-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7598384/award-withdrawn-after-cleric-s-controversial-past-belfast-news
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/belfast-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7598384/award-withdrawn-after-cleric-s-controversial-past-belfast-news.md
Podcast: [Belfast News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!](https://stenobird.com/podcast/belfast-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7598384)
Published: 2026-09-18T02:55:01+00:00
Episode link: https://sources.thednn.ai/92507ab2f08881c0
Audio file: https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/a963c220-3d73-417a-837a-a36d995894c4.mp3
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Duration seconds: 94

## Resource

A Muslim cleric honored by the Archbishop of Canterbury for interfaith reconciliation—just days after 9/11—is now under fire for past praise of Osama bin Laden, sparking outrage and a withdrawn award. The cleric’s 2007 remarks calling bin Laden a “Sword of God” for jihad against infidels drew condemnation from the National Secular Society, who called the timing “beyond parody.” While Lambeth Palace acknowledged the controversy and revoked the honor, Ashrafi’s team insists his comments were misinterpreted and tied to backlash over Salman Rushdie’s award. Despite his history of defending religious minorities in Pakistan, the Archbishop’s office deemed these past statements unacceptable for such a symbolic gesture. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Sources: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/lambeth-palace-withdraws-award-to-muslim-cleric-over-osama-bin-laden-remarks/a/161618903.html More coverage & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/92507ab2f08881c0 Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.

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