I wanted secular, non-Muslim people to stop kidding themselves that Islam is peace and tolerance.

As soon as something like Monty Python's 'The Life of Brian' appears with a Muhammad figure as the main lead, directed by an Arabic Theo van Gogh, the controversial late Dutch filmmaker, we will have taken an enormous step forward.

The liberal psyche wants to protect minorities, to apologize for imperialism, colonialism, slavery, and the appalling treatment of black people during the civil rights movement. At the same time, they want to continue to defend the rights of individuals.

I lived in countries that had no democracy... so I don't find myself in the same luxury as you do. You grew up in freedom, and you can spit on freedom because you don't know what it is not to have freedom.

I would like to be judged on the validity of my arguments, not as a victim.

I was a Muslim once, remember, and it was when I was most devout that I was most full of hate.

However, some things must be said, and there are times when silence becomes an accomplice to injustice.