Freedoms of thought, conscience, association and expression are not the reserve of certain people, they are universal human rights. I hold myself to be profoundly fortunate in that I live in a place and at a time in which I am able to exercise these freedoms, where I may openly dissent from the beliefs held by those around me, where I am free to reject inhumane dogmatism, and be true to myself. For many, for most, this is not and has not been the case.

I am eternally grateful to those who came before me, who fought and made personal sacrifices so that I might have my freedoms today. The very least I can do is continue that fight, in a struggle that will only end when these freedoms, these fundamental rights, are available to all. To shy away, to refuse to use ones freedom to ensure others have theirs, to remain silent in the face of tyranny and oppression, is to me unconscionable. For these reasons, I am proud to be a member of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain.