It was Friday, July 24, 1992, when I stepped on the train. Every year I think of it. I see it as my real birthday: the birth of me as a person, making decisions about my life on my own. I was not running away from Islam, or to democracy. I didn't have any big ideas then. I was just a young girl and wanted some way to be me; so I bolted into the unknown.

I'd like Muslims to look at their religion as a set of beliefs that they can appraise critically and pick and choose from.

I believe that the dysfunctional Muslim family constitutes a real threat to the very fabric of western life. It is in the family that children are groomed to practise, promote and pass on the norms of their parents' culture.

The idea that if people are just friendly and demonstrate they want peace, that will be answered with good will - that is really naive.

In April 2006, a Dutch court ordered that I leave my safe-home that I was renting from the State. The judge concluded that my neighbors had a right to argue that they felt unsafe because of my presence in the building.

Avoiding offense means that we don't accept each other as equals.

...Bear true witness, even if it be against yourselves, your parents or your family.