For as long as I can remember, I was taught to condemn those who aren’t a part of our (Sunni) islamic sect. Given my curious nature, I questioned and hypothesised about any and everything of personal interest, which was often reciprocated, except for where islam is concerned. I never fully understood why nobody cared to show any transparency for the issues I found with the faith, but I never pushed it too far out of fear. As I grew older, and with full access to the internet, I started to seek out answers on my own. It wasn’t long after that the holes I found disturbing within the faith started expanding alongside my understanding of the ‘outside world’. Because of that, I wasn’t able to truly see eye-to-eye with my family nor community. I felt like a fish out of water, but obviously had to keep up the image for my own sake. After difficult circumstances forced me to escape my country of birth, I found those in my community within the UK to also be mentally chained. After learning about Islamophobia, (illegal) islamic practices, and the push for islamic influence and acceptance in this country by not just extremists, I fell into despair.
I would not wish this position upon anyone, and I am compelled to do my part in restoring a more humane order in the UK.