Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council and Coordinator of the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee, Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, has received the prestigious Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation in recognition of his longstanding efforts to promote peace, religious dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Ashrafi received the award on Friday during a ceremony held at the historic Lambeth Palace in London. The award was presented by Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally.
Recognition for peace and interfaith efforts
The honour recognises Ashrafi’s decades-long contribution to reconciliation, moderation, interfaith and intra-faith harmony, minority rights and peaceful coexistence, as well as his consistent opposition to extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence.
The Hubert Walter Award is among the Lambeth Awards presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury to recognise distinguished contributions to reconciliation and interfaith cooperation.
According to details released by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Ashrafi was among the leading figures honoured across five categories of this year’s Lambeth Awards.
The recognition highlights his continued involvement in efforts to bring religious and sectarian communities closer together, promote mutual respect and advocate for the rights of minorities and vulnerable communities.
Ashrafi has also maintained a strong emphasis on peaceful coexistence while remaining committed to his faith and Islamic identity.
International recognition of Ashrafi’s work
Ashrafi has previously received the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Global Peace Award for his contributions to peace, harmony and cooperation.
The OIC distinction and the Hubert Walter Award are separate international honours, reflecting recognition of his work within the Muslim world as well as the wider international community.
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Over the years, Ashrafi’s activities have extended beyond Pakistan, including engagement in Makkah and with international religious and interfaith organisations. His work has focused on promoting peace, moderation, brotherhood, tolerance and dialogue while speaking against religious hatred, extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence.
The latest honour has also been described as a recognition for Pakistan and the wider Muslim world, placing a spotlight on the importance of religious harmony, moderation, dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
International roles
Ashrafi is a member of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League and serves as Secretary-General of the International Tazeem-e-Haramain Sharifain Council.
He is also a member of the International Muslim Forum and is associated with several international Islamic and interfaith organisations.
The Hubert Walter Award adds to his international recognition for work focused on religious diplomacy, reconciliation and dialogue.
