I am a women’s rights activist and come from a Muslim background. I work to support women and girls affected by domestic abuse and to empower them to be able to make choices for themselves. I think everyone views religion differently and our relationship with it can change over time. When I was younger religion wasn’t as present in my life as it is now. Somebody may look at me and say “She’s definitely not a Muslim because of the way she dresses”, but you can’t make that judgement. Religion is in the heart, not in the appearance. People often ask me where I am from and if I am Iranian, half Italian or Pakistani and I always respond with, ‘I’m British, I was born in Britain, grew up in Britain and I live in Britain’. They often continue to ask about my parents’ heritage. Sometimes you still have to explain yourself to people in the UK, many haven’t moved on from that. Over the years and now that I have my own family, I have grown to build a new connection to my Pakistani heritage. It resonates with me because it has made me who I am.