Archbishop of Canterbury withdraws award from Muslim cleric who praised Osama bin Laden

Image source, PA Image caption, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, left, is pictured accepting his award from Dame Sarah Mullally

The Archbishop of Canterbury has withdrawn an award given to a Muslim cleric who praised Osama Bin Laden.

Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi received the award for reconciliation and interfaith cooperation from Dame Sarah Mullally last week, on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Lambeth Palace faced a backlash after it emerged Ashrafi praised Bin Laden - the architect of the 2001 attacks - as someone who had "been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans and British", in comments from 2007.

Ashrafi also reportedly said he would give Bin Laden the title Saifullah, which means "Sword of God". He told the BBC his remarks had been "totally taken out of context".