Lambeth Palace Revokes Award to Pakistani Imam

Lambeth Palace has revoked an award for reconciliation and interfaith cooperation given to Pakistani imam Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi just last week.

Ashrafi received the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation for his longstanding support for religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly the Christian community.

The decision came after previous comments by Ashrafi came to light following the ceremony, prompting Lambeth Palace to reconsider the award. The palace said it had contacted him to inform him of the decision.

Despite the move, Lambeth Palace stressed that engagement across deeply held differences remained a key principle of interfaith dialogue. It also said it continued to pray for Pakistan’s Christian community and those working for interfaith dialogue and harmony in Pakistan and around the world.

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