Archbishop of Canterbury Rescinds Award to Pakistan Imam: Interfaith Agenda or Damage Control? Thomas Fretwell reports that the Archbishop of Canterbury has rescinded an honorary award to Imam Ashrafi, head of Pakistan’s Ulema Council, about ten hours after public backlash, following the emergence of his past “questionable” statements. He reads Lambeth Palace’s statement affirming interfaith engagement while withdrawing the award and praying for Christians in Pakistan. Fretwell argues the reversal is damage control rather than genuine repentance, noting the absence of any apology and questioning why the award was given on the anniversary of September 11, especially to a cleric who had previously praised Osama bin Laden. He concludes by quoting 19th-century Anglican bishop J.C. Ryle’s critique of “jellyfish Christianity” to rebuke what he sees as the Church of England’s spinelessness, and calls viewers to pray and repent.
