We in Tunisia have no problem with respecting other peoples religion, and we have a long tradition of that.

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.

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.

What Tunisia urgently needs, is freedom and the building of a real democracy.

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

No one in al-Nahda believes that jihad is a way to impose Islam on the world. But we believe that jihad is self-control, is social and political struggle, and even military jihad is only a way to defend oneself in the case of aggression.

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