Growing up in a small city of Pakistan I have witnessed persecution of my religion, my choices and my identity at first hand.

Two years ago when I came to the UK, I was able to enjoy the freedoms of the western society.

Here I am able to practice my faith freely without having the fear of persecution. However the recent news about banning religious symbols in the EU proved me wrong - now the hijab my religious symbol is being questioned.

I wonder is the EU court aware that banning Muslim women’s hijab or any other religious symbols of other faiths promotes inequality.

And also what is benefit of such a law? This law actually reminds me of the persecution I have faced in Pakistan.

In the west where a woman is given the power to chose and decide her way of life then she should also hold the right to decide how she wants to practice her faith - be it uncovered or covered.

From my personal experience the Hijab has never been a restriction in my life - I am able to pursue my studies, practice sports and take part in my day to day freely. On the other hand if my hijab was to be banned - my freedom will be taken from me, as I won’t have the choice to cover myself and be myself.

I want to remind the EU court, who are trying to ban religious symbols about the true meaning and significance of the hijab. Because of the widespread and erroneous notion that observing hijab is a heavy restriction imposed on Muslim women, society often is mistaken about the true purpose of the Hijab.

In Islam the Hijab plays such an important role because it’s purpose is to protect one’s beauty from the eyes of strangers - however women are given the choice to observe hijab since according to the Holy Quran there is no compulsion in faith.

The beauty of Islam is such that a muslin woman does not need to rely on physical beauty to achieve what she wants rather Islam allows women to be successful without having to show their beauty.

I really hope that I am successful in clarifying my point.

Roofia Mubashar & Maliha Ahmad, Wandsworth