MURSAL SAIQ

Outside Cue Point’s stand at the Pub in the Park festival, where they serve up barbecue to thousands of hungry people across the country, the Union Jack and Afghan flags blow side-by-side in the wind.

It’s an important symbol, one that represents both founders Mursal Saiq and Joshua Moroney’s heritage, but also their desire to continue to build a connection between the two countries.

Cue Point serves ‘inclusive barbecue’ – something for everyone, whether they’re vegan or follow a halal diet. Dishes such as brisket, which you’d expect from a barbecue joint, are sold alongside vegan hash buns.

Mursal and her family fled Afghanistan in the 1990s during the civil war and rise of the Taliban. The family felt leaving would be temporary while the Taliban were overthrown, but their exile proved permanent, first in India and then to the UK where they settled in London.

Mursal was devastated after the Taliban re-took Afghanistan following the withdrawal of allied troops in 2021. Not only did she work to facilitate the evacuation of family from the country, but she also brought much-needed attention to the plight of millions in Afghanistan once the news coverage had turned to other issues.

Now, Mursal remains an ardent campaigner, raising the profile of Afghanistan through her food and public talks. She also works with British hospitality businesses to teach racial awareness and equity, using her own experiences and those of her team to provide first-hand information about its importance.

Mursal remains an ardent campaigner, raising the pro ile of Afghanistan through her food and public talks