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Bishop Samuel Azariah Defends Lambeth Palace’s Hubert Walter Award to Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, Calls for Fair Assessment
Former Moderator of the Church of Pakistan urges critics to separate legitimate scrutiny of the award from attacks on Archbishop Sarah Mullally, citing his own firsthand experience of the cleric’s support for persecuted Christian communities.
The Rt. Rev. Samuel Robert Azariah, former Bishop of Raiwind and former Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, has defended the decision of Lambeth Palace to present the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation to prominent Pakistani Islamic scholar Maulana Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi, calling for a fair and balanced assessment of his record and contributions to interfaith harmony.
In a public statement, Bishop Azariah, himself a recipient of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and a long-time advocate of interfaith engagement in Pakistan, acknowledged that individuals and media organizations have the right to critically examine the decision. However, he expressed concern that some criticism had moved beyond legitimate scrutiny of the award recipient and had become an attack on the integrity of the Archbishop of Canterbury and her office.
“I appeal especially to critics to refrain from personal attacks against Archbishop Sarah Mullally, the first woman to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury in the office’s 1,400-year history. Disagreement with a particular decision should not become an occasion to undermine her leadership or the dignity of the office she represents.” — Rt. Rev. Samuel Robert Azariah
Reflecting on his personal experience working with Maulana Ashrafi, Bishop Azariah said that while some of the cleric’s earlier religious positions had raised concerns, he had witnessed a significant positive development in Ashrafi’s understanding of and commitment to the rights of Pakistan’s religious minorities, particularly Christians.
The former Church of Pakistan leader cited several incidents in which Maulana Ashrafi publicly supported vulnerable Christian communities. Among them was the high-profile case of Rimsha Masih, a Christian girl with an intellectual disability who was falsely accused of blasphemy. Bishop Azariah noted that Ashrafi stood alongside him during the case and supported efforts to secure justice.
He also recalled Ashrafi’s response following the killing of a Christian couple at a brick kiln near Kot Radha Kishan. According to Bishop Azariah, the Muslim scholar joined him at a gathering of more than 500 clerics near Clarkabad, where he strongly condemned the attack, demanded justice, and called for the arrest of those responsible.
Bishop Azariah further highlighted another incident near Faisalabad in which Maulana Ashrafi intervened on behalf of a poor Christian family whose home was allegedly targeted by religious extremists.
“These are not abstract claims. They are events in which I was personally involved and whose significance I witnessed firsthand.” — Rt. Rev. Samuel Robert Azariah
The former bishop emphasized that awards for reconciliation should not be viewed as endorsements of every position a person has ever held. Rather, he argued, such recognitions can acknowledge meaningful change, courageous actions, and efforts to build bridges between divided communities.
“Reconciliation itself rests upon the conviction that transformation is possible,” he said, urging critics to consider both concerns and positive contributions when evaluating the award.
Bishop Azariah concluded by expressing his belief that Maulana Ashrafi’s efforts on behalf of persecuted Christians and other vulnerable communities deserve recognition. He added that while responsible criticism remains important, societies should also be willing to acknowledge genuine growth and constructive action that promote peace and interfaith understanding.
Maulana Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi recently received the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation from Lambeth Palace, a recognition that honors individuals who have made significant contributions to reconciliation, peacebuilding, and interfaith cooperation.
Commenting on the statement, Rev. Dr. Khushnud Azariah said: “Thank you for sharing your statement regarding Maulana Ashrafi. Criticism of Maulana Tahir Ashrafi’s award should be fair, evidence-based, and mindful of his documented support for persecuted Christian families in Pakistan.”
“Disagreement with the award must not become a personal attack on Archbishop Sarah Mullally or an attempt to undermine the sacred office she has only recently assumed.” — Rev. Dr. Khushnud Azariah
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