Political dictatorship and social hopelessness create the desperation that fuels religious extremism.

While living in America when I attended Harvard in the early 1970s, I saw for myself the awesome, almost miraculous, power of a people to change policy through democratic means.

Like all children I had taken my father for granted. Now that I had lost him, I felt an emptiness that could never be filled. But I did not let myself cry, believing as a Muslim that tears pull a spirit earthward and won't let it be free.

Political dictatorship and social hopelessness create the desperation that fuels religious extremism.

All our problems, all our disputes, all our disagreements can be resolved quickly to mutual satisfaction if we address the question.

In a way, a jail is a place where you can rest, read books and live with yourself.

Right now, they feel they have lost their voice, and their miseries have increased since my departure.