Presentation of Templeton Prize Delayed

Presentation of the 1988 Templeton Prize Progress in Religion has been postponed for the first time in its 15-year history because of criticisms made against the recipient, the secretary general of the World Muslim Congress.

Inamullah Khan last month was named as winner of the $369,000 award, the richest international prize of any kind. The Nassau-based Templeton Foundation said he had been chosen by an international jury “for his tireless work as a coordinator for peace between Muslims, Christians and Jews.”

But after announcement of the prize, leaders of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of B’nai B’rith and the American Jewish Committee charged that the recipient and his organization have taken consistently “anti-Jewish” positions.

The ADL charged that the World Muslim Congress had sent anti-Jewish books to members of Congress from the group’s headquarters in Karachi, Pakistan.

The Templeton Foundation has announced that this year’s presentation, which was scheduled for May 10 in London, has been postponed at Khan’s request.

It quoted Khan as having made the request “to allow full reassurances to be given to all the judges, to clear away all accusations and misunderstandings.”