Archbishop Faces Backlash Over Photo with Cleric's Wife

Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally is facing criticism after being photographed with the wife of Pakistani cleric Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, whose face was concealed by a niqab. Critics argue the image sends a "deeply troubling message" and "condones" the repression of Muslim women, potentially causing "serious reputational damage" to the Church of England.

Ashrafi had been awarded the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Co-operation for promoting harmonious relationships between religious groups. However, the award was subsequently withdrawn after it emerged that an organization chaired by Ashrafi had previously bestowed an honor on Osama bin Laden. This occurred shortly after the award ceremony, which took place on the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Shadow Home Secretary Nick Timothy and Shadow Culture Secretary Rebecca Paul have formally written to the Archbishop, stating that the Church of England teaches the equal dignity and worth of men and women. They contend that presenting an award alongside Ashrafi's wife, whose face was hidden by a niqab, could appear to endorse "one of the most repressive manifestations of Islam." They highlighted ongoing struggles for women's freedoms in Afghanistan and Iran, and noted that coercion related to veiling also occurs in Britain.

In response to the controversy, a spokesperson for Ashrafi stated that his remarks regarding Osama bin Laden were presented without proper context and were not an endorsement, but rather an expression of hurt felt by many Muslims over the British honor given to Salman Rushdie. The spokesperson also affirmed that Ashrafi's wife and daughter's decision to wear the hijab is a personal and religious right, and that Ashrafi had dedicated his award to his wife for her support.

Lambeth Palace issued a statement acknowledging the "widespread concern" and confirming the award's rescission. The Palace is reviewing its nomination and vetting processes to prevent similar incidents in the future. Ashrafi's wife was not named in any caption accompanying the photograph, and a second woman, believed to be his daughter, also remained anonymous.

Further scrutiny of Ashrafi's past statements revealed he had previously described Hamas terrorists as "Palestinian freedom fighters" following the October 7, 2023 attacks. He also shared an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory regarding missile strikes in Iran and called Ayatollah Khamenei a "martyr." Additionally, he was quoted as saying about those who oppose blasphemy laws: "We will break that hand, if you used your tongue against Islamic clauses, we will cut that tongue, if you directed your eyes towards Islamic clauses, we will take your eyes out."