Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, has revoked an award given to Muslim cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi due to past remarks he made about Osama bin Laden. The award was initially presented on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks by Dame Sarah Mullally, who praised Ashrafi's efforts in promoting reconciliation and interfaith cooperation. However, the decision to withdraw the honor came after scrutiny of Ashrafi’s earlier comments, which were deemed controversial. In 2007, while leading the Pakistan Ulema Council, a prominent Islamic organization, Ashrafi suggested that bin Laden be given the title "Saifullah," which translates to "Sword of God." He made this suggestion in the context of "serving Muslims by waging jihad against infidels," a phrase that has been widely criticized as endorsing extremist views. The National Secular Society strongly opposed the award's presentation, calling it "obscene, and almost beyond parody," especially given that it took place on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths, including 67 British citizens. Lambeth Palace stated that Ashrafi’s previous comments were a key factor in the decision to revoke the award. A spokesperson for Ashrafi defended his remarks, saying they were presented "without their proper context." The comments were made during protests in Pakistan against Salman Rushdie, an author who had been awarded a knighthood in Britain. Ashrafi told the Press Association he was using the example to highlight the perceived injustice of honoring Rushdie, a figure many Muslims consider offensive due to his controversial novel The Satanic Verses. He emphasized that the title was never actually given to bin Laden. The controversy highlights the sensitivity surrounding historical statements by religious figures and the challenges of reconciling past actions with present values. It also raises questions about how such honors are evaluated and the importance of context in understanding controversial remarks.