Fury as Church of England Gaza tapestry pays tribute to dozens of dead TERRORISTS

CHURCH of England leaders have cancelled a Gaza memorial event after it was found to have tributes to dozens of dead terrorists. Bosses called off the showing of a tribute tapestry after at least 25 names of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad “martyrs” were included. Church of England leaders have cancelled a Gaza memorial event after learning the tapesty featured names of dead terrorists It comes after the Archbishop of Canterbury hands award to Mr Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council Credit: PA It comes after the Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally this week had to withdraw an award presented to a Muslim cleric on September 11 after learning he once praised Osama Bin Laden. Jewish groups complained to the Bishop of Leeds when terrorists’ names were identified among 16,800 stitched on to the tapestry, made by pro-Palestinian project Stitch Their Names, at Leeds Minster. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The event was intended to focus on the scale of innocent lives lost in the Gaza War, triggered by the October 7 terror attacks that killed 1,200 people in southern Israel. But background checks and social media posts of names on the list revealed links to Hamas and Islamic Jihad — both banned in the UK. Evidence unearthed after the exhibition opened last week included pictures of several men in military uniforms and carrying weapons. Jewish groups had warned of the possibility, but were assured no terrorists were included. Local Jews who went to see the display last weekend said they were blocked by minster stewards as they tried to photograph tapestry panels. The 25 names linked to the terror groups were gleaned from pictures they managed to capture. Most read in The Sun Bishop of Leeds the Rt Rev Dr Toby Howarth shut down the event in response to concerns expressed by the Jewish community Credit: leedsminster.org The Archbishop was pictured with Ashrafi 25 years to the day after the New York Twin Towers attacks, which killed 3,000 Credit: Neil Turner Bishop of Leeds the Rt Rev Dr Toby Howarth shut down the event yesterday after receiving a dossier of evidence from the Leeds Jewish Representative Council. The Rev Canon Paul Maybury, a spokesman for Leeds Minster, said: “We immediately decided to close the exhibition.” He went on: “Leeds Minster acknowledges by hosting this exhibition we have harmed our relationship with some in the Jewish community, for which we apologise and now seek to rebuild trust.” Simon Myerson, of the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, said: “Leeds Minster trustees asserted they had done due diligence. “It is distressing the concern expressed by the Jewish community was so condescendingly dismissed. “The Church should now embark on a public process of reflection and repentance. We do not have any confidence it will.” Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah gave a prestigious award for “reconciliation and interfaith co-operation” to Tahir Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council. She was pictured with him 25 years to the day after the New York Twin Towers attacks, which killed 3,000. In 2007, Ashrafi condemned a knighthood given to Islamic hate figure author Sir Salman Rushdie, saying he would award 9/11 mastermind Bin Laden the title of Saifullah, or “Sword of God” in tribute. Comment now