There is no one in al-Nahda that is violence is a means of change or to keep power. Everyone in al-Nahda believes that democracy is the only way to reach power and to stay in power.

I will not be standing for office. I'm nearing 70; there are younger people within our movement. I just wish to contribute intellectually to the historic process of taking Tunisia from the era of repression to one of democracy.

I dream of a free, democratic, peaceful Tunisia, a country that can protect its developing identity.

I believe that women should have equal rights to education, to work and to civic and political engagement.

Al-Nahda is a movement; it is not just a small party.

I hope that with the success of the transition to democracy in Tunisia that we will export to Egypt a working democratic model.

Just like in medicine, when the normal medicine no longer works, one resorts to surgery. And the revolutions is like the surgery: Its painful, and its the last resort for nations.