NameJaffar Raza Jamshead
Statement

I took the decision to leave Islam in June 2017. From the age of 2 to about the age of 17, I'd been heavily indoctrinated by my mother in particular. Then I started to do my own thinking after reading several works by several authors. But deciding to leave was probably the most difficult decision I made - it took me seven years of denial to finally face the truth. I have only come out to a handful of people, but my mother is suspicious and her mere suspicion has caused her to alienate herself from me. I came out to three of my best friends since junior school, trusting that - of all people - they'd understand, considering how much we've been through as a clique and their open-mindedness up until then. All three of them have since cut off relations with me. I've been trying to put the pieces of my identity back together but it's been difficult, especially because of the social isolation. I desperately crave the company and conversation of like-minded people who share similar experiences. A place to share ideas and discuss and participate in group, community and humanitarian activities.