Think back to a political discussion in which you or your conversation partner were wrong and how difficult it was to accept it. Changing one’s mind is a painful process of acknowledging that you were mistaken, admitting that your opposition was correct, and letting go of all of the other beliefs that relied on that belief.

Now imagine what it is like for a Muslim who faces all of these same challenges, often with the added fear of exile, physical harm, and even death. To top it off, one of the most sinister aspects of religion is how it becomes inextricably bound to one’s identity. The ideology and their very being are intertwined, and when the consequences for renouncing it are so dire, one must be in awe of those who are brave enough to do it.