Archbishop of Canterbury on Osama Bin Laden

Dr Rowan Williams

Today at a press conference regarding the appointment of the New Provincial Episcopal Visitors, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, was asked an unrelated question regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden.

The question and answer can be found below:

Q: Do you believe that the killing of Osama Bin Laden is justice for the 9/11 attacks and indeed other attacks? And was the US morally justified in shooting him even though he was unarmed as the White House now admits?

A: I think that the killing of an unarmed man is always going to leave a very uncomfortable feeling because it doesn't look as if justice is seen to be done, in those circumstances. I think it is also true that the different versions of events that have emerged in recent days have not done a great deal to help here. I don't know the full details anymore than anyone else does but I do believe that in such circumstance when we are faced with someone who was manifestly a 'war criminal' as you might say in terms of the atrocities inflicted, it is important that justice is seen to be observed.

Source: Archbishop of Canterbury's office