Archbishop of Canterbury Revokes Interfaith Award from Pakistani Cleric After Praise of Osama bin Laden

The Archbishop of Canterbury has withdrawn an interfaith award that had been presented to a Pakistani Muslim cleric. The decision follows the resurfacing of the cleric’s 2007 remarks in which he praised Osama bin Laden. Public backlash and concerns over extremist rhetoric prompted the Church to act. The award, originally intended to recognize interfaith dialogue, was rescinded in a formal statement issued by the Archbishop’s office. The revocation underscores the Church’s intolerance of praise for terrorist figures and its commitment to maintaining the integrity of its interfaith initiatives. No further disciplinary action against the cleric was announced at this time. The move signals a broader effort to distance religious institutions from extremist endorsements.