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)

I found this article in the Church Times (the archive.ph link will bypass any paywall)

https://archive.ph/AiQ9M

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/25-september/news/uk/muslim-scholar-in-awards-débâcle-deserves-apology-from-lambeth-palace-says-moderator-of-church-of-pakistan

Gives a bit of background on Ashrafi, quotes sources that are generally supportive of him and we finally learn what his wife is called, Saima. It's nice to be able to put a name to the...face.

Incidentally the wife of the billionaire donor to Reform what's his name- the one in Hong Kong- his wife has no social media presence and there are no photos

I linked to a Sunday Times article, July 01, 2018.

Photo -
Ben Delo, centre, with wife Pan Pan Wong on his right, joins parents Claire and Andrew, right, and other members of his family, all dressed as the cartoon character Wally, at the Rugby Sevens tournament in Hong Kong

Ben Delo's wife had a broad smile in the photograph.

' to insulate him from having to accept something from the archbishop'
What do you mean by this?
No I didn't not think she's in a dungeon. Just that there are many reasons why people might want to be out of the public eye and in places where it's less safe for women maybe even moreso.
Just that it's complex don't you think? Which is more invisible?

I'm not sure that one appearance in 2018 A wally costume hidden behind a paywall is saying she has a media presence.. it kind of highlights the absence..
You have to smile especially in a Wally costume-
So is it better to be out of the public eye or in it and covered up?
And I guess the answer is it depends why you are doing it. How safe it is and who is impacted and how

Sorry, I thought I was clear. What I meant was possibly to insulate him from having to accept something from the Archbishop. Hope that's cleared that up.

Yes, and who is unsafe, why and from whom?

I don't understand why you think he needs insulation?
I don't know- this billionaires wife could be unsafe for a whole host of reasons and we wouldn't know why because she's not talking nor visible to the online community. But online isn't very safe because there are weirdos out there. If they have kids ( haven't looked tbh) that's another reason she might have no profile. Because those weirdos are even weirder.
If there are no photos does she ever go out?
Or he could be pathologically averse to her being seen.
Or maybe they aren't together any more
Or maybe she signed a contract like Elon Musk's partners.
And the woman in a niqab may have a version of any of the above plus them being culturally normalised, which have translated into a needed, desired, or coerced habit of wearing it.
Or maybe it wasn't even her?

I'm suggesting the two might in effect not be that different.

There definitely are weirdos on-line.

Still don't get why he needs insulating.

I think he's a bit nesh.

You said there were no photos of Ben Delo's wife. I found a photo. I know what she looks like - I don't know what Mr Ashrafi's wife looks like.

Lots of ceremonies, no wife

What sort of ceremonies? Has Ben Delo won any awards?

this billionaires wife could be unsafe for a whole host of reasons

Likely threat of kidnapping - it seems there has been a series of abductions related to cry... figures/their relatives and investors - in Hong Kong and Europe.

The things money can't buy.
Similar situation to some Royals maybe.