Translator’s Note: Being English – and a secular scholar of religious history and thought – I am often in and out of various Protestant Christian Churches, Cathedrals, Chantries, Monasteries, Chapels, and similar buildings of significance. Recently, at 59, I once again climbed the 528-steps of St Paul’s Cathedral. Indeed, I often joke that my non-Christian family is in and out of more Churches, more often, than the average self-described Christian. Even though we have faced discrimination from Christians in positions of authority – we know that Jesus did not teach this – and we exercise Buddhist loving kindness and move on with forgiveness. I, personally, and for reasons I cannot explain, have had good relations with the Catholic monastic (St Benedict) tradition – despite them knowing my politics (many monastics are very left-wing). I have marched in London holding the Red Flag – next to Catholic monks from the St Frances tradition (with Quackers nearby). When a young teenager I left home for Further Education. I had a brief love affair with a Muslim girl – but we were both naïve (it was merely emotional). Later, at a different educational facility, I lived in student accommodation with a group of Muslims from the North of England – who fed me “free” for a year. I was never forced to do anything and was not invited to the local mosque – I could not even tell you where these people disappeared to on a Friday night to “pray”. The point is that selfless kindness has a permanent effect upon one’s heart and mind – and is never forgotten. The story I relate below is from the perspective of the Pakistan Christian community. The Church of England recently presented Iman Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi [طاہر محمود اشرفی] with the “Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation” – but following a Tory MP’s interference – the CofE withdrew the reward. The CofE has bent to Islamophobia in the UK – as the British Press has run with the right-wing lie that the good Iman has made a historical statement “supporting” terrorism – this is not true. As an individual with no political power – the Iman has stated that the existing “blasphemy law” should not be misused to attack non-Muslims – but he broadly supports punishing bona fide attacks on his faith (what more could he do – considering the situation he is in?). Bear in mind that the CofE has been historically riddled with allegations of paedophilia, and permits St Pauk’s Cathedral to me used for “raves“. Furthermore, whether an individual (or group) is Christian or not – the CofE permits people to use Churches as “hotels” over a single night or a number of nights – indeed, this highly expensive and lucrative development is termed “Champing“! I have personal experience of this – as I stayed over-night in a local Church assessing if claims of “hauntings” had any validity (there was no evidence). I note the CofE has registered the term “Champing” as a “Trade Mark” (after-all, the CofE has only just ended its long-term investment in the arms industry). I support a universal freedom of thought that gives equal weight to “believing” and “not-believing” in religion. Religionists must accommodate and accept atheism and non-theism – just as secularists must tolerant those who believe in a sky-spirit. Religions tolerating one another’s delusions is not the answer – it is just a step. Religionists should not be offended by my words. ACW (19.9.2026)

Significant change, British award withdrawn, honour given by Church of Pakistan.

September 18, 2026

Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, has been withdrawn from the “Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation” 2026 in the United Kingdom, while the Church of Pakistan has awarded him the Global Peace Award in recognition of his services to peace, interfaith harmony and religious tolerance.

Bishop Azad Marshall, President of the Church of Pakistan, presented the Global Peace Award to Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi during a ceremony held in Lahore. According to the details released on the occasion, the award has been given in recognition of their contribution to peace, religious harmony, dialogue between different religions and protection of the rights of non-Muslim citizens in the country. Appreciating the efforts of Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi at the national and international levels, Bishop Azad Marshal said that he has continuously played a role in promoting dialogue and harmony among the followers of different religions in Pakistan.

On this occasion, Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi thanked the Church of Pakistan and Bishop Azad Marshall and vowed to continue their efforts for peace, religious harmony and protection of the legitimate rights of all Pakistanis. He said that the joint efforts of Muslim and non-Muslim religious leaders through the platform of the National Message Peace Committee would further strengthen peace, interfaith harmony and national unity in Pakistan.

The Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation 2026 was presented to Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi at a ceremony at Lambeth Palace in London on September 11. The Archbishop of Canterbury’s office later decided to withdraw his award, citing some of his past statements.

After the withdrawal of the award, Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi took the stand in a video statement on the social media platform X that some of his statements were presented out of context, on the basis of which it was decided to withdraw the award. He claimed that the Indian and Ahmadi lobby were behind the decision. Before withdrawing the award, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office had sought clarification on certain issues related to the blasphemy law, Salman Rushdie, Osama bin Laden and his wife’s hijab, to which he argued that he was in favour of keeping the blasphemy law in place but opposed its misuse.

Urdu (Arabic) Language Text:

برطانیہ کا ایوارڈ واپس، چرچ آف پاکستان نے حافظ طاہر اشرفی کو گلوبل پیس ایوارڈ دے دیا

برطانیہ کا ایوارڈ واپس، چرچ آف پاکستان نے حافظ طاہر اشرفی کو گلوبل پیس ایوارڈ دے دیا

اہم تبدیلی، برطانوی ایوارڈ واپس لیا گیا، چرچ آف پاکستان کی جانب سے اعزاز۔

September 18, 2026 · قومی

پاکستان علما کونسل کے چیئرمین حافظ طاہر محمود اشرفی کو برطانیہ میں دیا گیا دی ہیوبرٹ والٹر ایوارڈ فار ریکنسیلی ایشن اینڈ انٹرفیتھ کوآپریشن 2026 واپس لے لیا گیا ہے، جبکہ دوسری جانب چرچ آف پاکستان نے انہیں امن، بین المذاہب ہم آہنگی اور مذہبی رواداری کے لیے خدمات کے اعتراف میں گلوبل پیس ایوارڈ سے نواز دیا ہے۔

لاہور میں منعقدہ ایک تقریب کے دوران چرچ آف پاکستان کے صدر بشپ آزاد مارشل نے حافظ طاہر محمود اشرفی کو گلوبل پیس ایوارڈ پیش کیا۔ اس موقع پر جاری کردہ تفصیلات کے مطابق یہ اعزاز ملک میں امن، مذہبی ہم آہنگی، مختلف مذاہب کے درمیان مکالمے اور غیرمسلم شہریوں کے حقوق کے تحفظ کے لیے ان کی خدمات کے اعتراف میں دیا گیا ہے۔ بشپ آزاد مارشل نے حافظ طاہر محمود اشرفی کی قومی اور بین الاقوامی سطح پر کوششوں کو سراہتے ہوئے کہا کہ انہوں نے پاکستان میں مختلف مذاہب کے پیروکاروں کے درمیان مکالمے اور ہم آہنگی کے فروغ کے لیے مسلسل کردار ادا کیا ہے۔

اس موقع پر حافظ طاہر محمود اشرفی نے چرچ آف پاکستان اور بشپ آزاد مارشل کا شکریہ ادا کرتے ہوئے عزم ظاہر کیا کہ وہ امن، مذہبی ہم آہنگی اور تمام پاکستانیوں کے جائز حقوق کے تحفظ کے لیے اپنی کوششیں جاری رکھیں گے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ نیشنل پیغام امن کمیٹی کے پلیٹ فارم سے مسلم اور غیرمسلم مذہبی قیادت کی مشترکہ کوششیں پاکستان میں امن، بین المذاہب و بین المسالک ہم آہنگی اور قومی یک جہتی کو مزید مضبوط کریں گی۔

واضح رہے کہ دی ہیوبرٹ والٹر ایوارڈ فار ریکنسیلی ایشن اینڈ انٹرفیتھ کوآپریشن 2026 حافظ طاہر محمود اشرفی کو 11 ستمبر کو لندن کے لیمبیتھ پیلس میں ایک تقریب کے دوران دیا گیا تھا۔ بعد ازاں آرچ بشپ آف کینٹربری کے دفتر نے ان کا یہ ایوارڈ واپس لینے کا فیصلہ کیا، جس کی وجہ ان کے ماضی کے بعض بیانات کو قرار دیا گیا۔

ایوارڈ واپس لیے جانے کے بعد حافظ طاہر محمود اشرفی نے سوشل میڈیا پلیٹ فارم ایکس پر اپنے ایک ویڈیو بیان میں مؤقف اختیار کیا کہ ان کے بعض بیانات کو سیاق و سباق سے ہٹ کر پیش کیا گیا جس کی بنیاد پر ایوارڈ واپس لینے کا فیصلہ ہوا۔ انہوں نے دعویٰ کیا کہ اس فیصلے کے پیچھے بھارتی اور احمدی لابی کا کردار ہے۔ آرچ بشپ آف کینٹربری کے دفتر نے ایوارڈ واپس لینے سے قبل ان سے توہین مذہب کے قانون، سلمان رشدی، اسامہ بن لادن اور ان کی اہلیہ کے حجاب سے متعلق بعض معاملات پر وضاحت طلب کی تھی، جس پر انہوں نے مؤقف اپنایا تھا کہ وہ توہین مذہب کے قانون کے برقرار رہنے کے حق میں ہیں تاہم اس کے غلط استعمال کی مخالفت کرتے ہیں۔