Canterbury Archbishop criticised after photo with veiled wife of controversial cleric and award rescinded
At a recent awards ceremony at Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury stood beside Pakistani cleric Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi and his wife, who wore a niqab covering her face. The image prompted criticism from shadow home secretary Nick Timothy and shadow culture secretary Rebecca Paul, who said it appeared to endorse a practice they view as oppressive to women. The ceremony, marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, also drew outrage from victims and commentators after the award was withdrawn amid controversy surrounding Ashrafi. Calls for an apology and meetings with terrorism victims have been made by figures including Travis Frain, Nick Timothy and Tim Dieppe.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
Why it matters
The episode raises questions about the Church’s approach to gender equality and its handling of controversial religious figures.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTCenter coverage presents the story as a straightforward withdrawal of an interfaith award after the cleric’s past praise of Osama bin Laden resurfaced, while right-leaning coverage frames the episode as a scandal over the Archbishop’s photo with the cleric’s veiled wife and portrays the award’s rescission as evidence of moral decline.
CENTER
Centrist coverage reports the award’s rescission after backlash over the cleric’s 2007 praise of Osama bin Laden, noting his remarks were described as “totally taken out of context.”
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage condemns the Archbishop for posing with the cleric’s veiled wife and uses the incident to depict the Church and liberal elites as morally compromised.
The right emphasises
- photo of the Archbishop standing beside the cleric’s wife in a niqab
- criticism that the image appears to endorse an oppressive practice toward women
- characterisation of the episode as evidence of Britain’s “moral capitulation” or “collapse”
How this story developed
- Sep 17 Canterbury Archbishop faces backlash for honoring cleric who praised Bin Laden on 9/11 anniversary
- Sep 19 Lambeth Palace has rescinded the Hubert Walter Award from Tahir Ashrafi.
