And Mr Ashrafi told the Church Times on Wednesday that he had been subject to “propaganda” and that comments about his wife’s wearing of the niqab had caused her to be “in grief”.

UK: Muslim Scholar “Awards Débâcle” Deserves Apology from Lambeth Palace – Moderator of Church of Pakistan! (24.9.2026)

Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi was given the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation on 11 September for his “outstanding work as an ambassador of interfaith harmony in Pakistan” (News online, 18 September). A week later, Lambeth Palace announced that it had been withdrawn, after previous comments made by Mr Ashrafi came to light, including a decision to honour Osama bin Laden as a “Sword of God” in response to Salman Rushdie’s being given a knighthood.

In an interview with Canon Chris Sugden on the Anglican Mainstream website on Saturday, Dr Marshall said that the Church of Pakistan had been “deeply humiliated” by the withdrawal of the award to Mr Ashrafi. “He trusted Canterbury as a Church office and took his wife and daughter there. This is a highest offence against him and us.”

And Mr Ashrafi told the Church Times on Wednesday that he had been subject to “propaganda” and that comments about his wife’s wearing of the niqab had caused her to be “in grief”.

A view of Samarkand Olympiad 2026

Pakistan: Samarkand Chess Olympiad 2026 – Israel “Boycotted” in Favour of “Palestine Solidarity”! (19.9.2026)

I had know idea historical Samarkand is now situated in the modern Nation State of Uzbekistan (a former Soviet Republic) an Islamic country. When the US and UK invaded Revolutionary Russia between 1918-1921 – the (58,000) British Army tended to manoeuvre around this general geographical area (the British committed an atrocity in Baku – Azerbaijan – by murdering unarmed Soviet POWs). So ashamed was the British Nation after this shameful event – no regiment in the British Army claim these actions as “battle honours”. The US tried to extend WWI to happening between 1914-1921 (these dates actually appear on some plaques) – but Great Britain refused this designation and limited WWI to “1914-1918” (although occasionally a plaque will read “1914-1919”) when the Soviet Red Army prevailed (the formation of the USSR was established in late 1922). Now, I know people from Pakistan sometimes access this blog – so I have added a few “Urdu” texts with English translation. Never stop learning.

The Good Iman, Wife & Daughter Receiving the Award in London!

Church of Pakistan: Iman Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi [طاہر محمود اشرفی] Receives “Global Peace Award”! (19.9.2026)

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.

His Excellency Mr Abdulmalik Badr Al-Din Al Houthi

Yemen: His Excellency – Mr Abdulmalik Badr Al-Din Al Houthi – Explains the US & Israeli-Instigated [Saudi Arabian] Violence Against His Country! (17.9.2026)

The Saudi aggressor has killed thousands of women and targeted civilians in their homes, bombing cities, neighborhoods, and markets in a mass extermination.

– The Saudi aggressor has killed Yemenis in all places, in markets, homes, streets, hospitals, schools, and other places.

– The Saudi aggressor has targeted mosques in our country and has never respected or revered their sanctity.

– The Saudi aggressor has targeted more than two thousand mosques in our country, including historical mosques in remote areas, not on the front lines.

– The Saudi aggressor even targeted a shelter centre for the blind in Sana’a, and targeted cemeteries and historical sites.

– Crimes of rape against children and women have emerged in areas occupied by the Saudis, along with crimes of torture and brutal treatment of prisoners.

– The Saudi aggressor has committed heinous crimes that are unanimously classified as crimes on a global scale, and in a systematic manner.

The wooden coffin was on display in the Egypt and Sudan collections

UK: Why Museum’s Last Mummy Has Been Taken-Off Display! (14.9.2026)

When I was in Egypt during the mid-1990s, I found the local Egyptians would allow virtually anything just as long as you gave them money. In airports that served Westerners – the toilets would have no toilet-paper. Egyptian “attendants” would discreetly wait until a Westerner locked the door of a convenience and then knock on the door and offer sheets of toilet paper delivered under the door for a specified amount (usually Egyptian pound notes). This is the level of cheapness we are dealing with. Virtually anything was for sale in Islamic Egypt as the Arabs who control the country now have nothing to do with pyramid-building or the Pharaohs. We saw mummy after mummy on display as we traversed around (Egypt remains the only country where I was questioned by the Airport Authorities – and asked to explain “why” I was in a “mixed-ethnicity” marriage). Knowing what I know about the shallowness of contemporary Egyptian culture – I find the pretentious bourgeois attitude relayed below to be bordering on the laughable. Why would modern Egyptians care about the remains of a different ethnic group, whose religion they do not follow or care about? Muslims over the recent centuries have damaged the pyramids they now exploit to a remarkable degree. It is funny the BBC does mention this aspect.

2,800-year-old agora uncovered at Türkiye's ancient city of Troy |

Turkey: 2,800-Yearr-Old Greek “Agora” Unearthed at Ancient Troy Site! (11.9.2026)

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Reyhan Korpe, deputy head of the excavations, said the discovery proves Troy wasn’t permanently abandoned after the Bronze Age, solving a long-standing puzzle about how the legendary city became the later Greek city of Ilion.

Korpe said the discovery is part of a dedicated research initiative launched in 2014 to map the connection between Bronze Age Troy and the subsequent city of Ilion.

Archaeological findings show that after the civilization collapsed, the site was left empty for only 80-90 years before new settlers arrived. Rather than starting over, they built their homes atop the ancient stone walls and continued using the old public square as an agora.

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