Has everyone seen the photo of the Archbishop of Canterbury presenting an award to Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi? If not, please have a look

[TheStateWeAreIn]

I don’t know what to say really, I just want as many women on MN as possible to see this picture.

Particularly Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi‘s wife.

There’s so much going on there.

(I know there’s another thread about the award and it’s subsequent withdrawal, I just wanted to start a thread to focus on the photo)

Why don’t you start by giving your own thoughts on the photo?

“There’s so much going on there”
Go ahead…

Looks like two religions coming together

You would need to ask his wife's thoughts on covering her body like that

Have you done that?

Why, thank you, I will.

I think it’s horrific. It exemplifies the hypocrisy and mindlessness of much of the political discourse of the UK in 2026.

Here is a woman who has risen to the highest position in the Church of England because of our liberal society and beliefs in equality for men and women giving an award to a man whose religion and beliefs require his wife to wear a living shroud with two tiny holes for her eyes. (That’s before you get on to the supporting of Islamic terrorism, but I want to focus on the women’s rights issue.)

So many questions.

What does Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi really think of Sarah Mullally?

What does his wife really think of Sarah Mullally?

What does their religion say about Sarah Mullally and her religion?

What does Sarah Mullally think about HMTMA’s wife? Does she think she has a good life? Is free? Can choose her religion and her dress?

Who picked the 25th anniversary of September 11th to give this award?

Agree. 6 hands on one A4 sheet is...busy.

You probably should read about Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi if you think this is a photo of religious harmony.

I imagine she would say it’s her choice. Because she has no choice but to say this.

Do you agree with cultures and religions oppressing women?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckr50lrz5e6zo

The award has been withdrawn.

I find the photo and story behind it to be a microcosm of the weird times we live in.

Female preacher (in her role arrived at because of the centuries long work women have done on her behalf) hands award to terrorism supporting Muslim accompanied by his fully covered wife who has not benefited from the same freedoms at all.

So much to see here.

The OP acknowledges this but still wanted to start another thread.

It’s so interesting that a few short years ago people were horrified to see pictures like this coming out of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Now it seems some women are fine with it. My point exemplified. You have been told to accept something that only a few short years ago you knew was a grotesque subjugation of women.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is part of this insidious process, despite the fact that she has taken advantage of and benefited from sexual equality for herself.

That’s fine. It’s about the image.

Yes, and thank heavens for that stroke of common sense. But it was awarded in the first place and this photo taken.

None of us can answer your questions though. Personally I reject all religion so I don’t admire any of them as religious figures.

I actually thought this was a fake picture when I first saw it, because the veil the (presumably woman) is wearing is so extreme. I thought it may have been created to anger people, sew division and feed in to far right racist tropes.
But this is real, this is Taliban level oppression of a woman on British soil, with a supposedly 'good Christian woman' standing there accepting this, right under her nose. Practically endorsing it.
It's incredibly disturbing.
The woman wearing it can say its her choice all she wants......if it wasn't for the men in their religion enforcing this is the 'right' way for a woman to dress, no woman would just choose it on their own. Its horrific.

No shortage of Archbishops covering up for sex offenders and abusers within the Church. Let's not forget that.

I agree. It’s a shocking image. And does highlight a shocking change in the Overton window.

Before agreeing it’s her choice to appear wrapped entirely in black cloth, looking somewhat like a kidnap or torture victim, consider what the result of her choosing to wear western dress would be. If the consequences of your choice puts your life at risk or you would be ostracised, than that isn’t a free choice.

Same.

The questions are a waste of time unless his wife is a Mumsnetter and willing to answer them.

I guess my thoughts are so what? How does how she dress affect you? Despite the nonsense you hear on the news, no one is forcing you to dress the same so, who cares?

And?
Not sure that means we should ignore whats happening to women in the name of another religion.

Wow! One day it might be you being abused. I won't care though. As long as its not me.

To clarify, I wasn’t asking other people to answer my questions. They are questions the photo makes me ask myself. And some that I think the Archbishop of Canterbury should be asking herself.

I'm glad not all women throughout history have had this attitude.

Indeed, who could possibly care about other women’s lives, their rights and the oppression they may suffer…

3 feminists together?

I agree op. As a feminist I don’t know how anyone can defend this - yes it might be her individual ‘choice’ but the cultural and theological underpinning of that choice is pure misogyny.

As is, I might add, certain members of the Anglican Church refusing to acknowledge Sarah Mullaly as Head of the Church and being allowed to carry on serving in it.

God created men and women as equal in worth. Different but of equal worth, as they were both made in the image of God.