When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp. The funny thing is that human rights activists and Mr. Bush can never be situated in the same group.

The idea of cultural relativism is nothing but an excuse to violate human rights.

I am the voice of the people in Iran whose voices are silent and whose demands cannot be heard by the rest of the world.

Israel is a country and should exist. And a country by the name of Palestine should be made. Two different governments of Palestine and Israel can live beside each other happily and both of them should recognize each other.

The government of Iran claims that every two years there are elections. But none of them are free.

I have never been convinced throughout my life that one needs to be imitating others. I even tell my daughters not to look at me as a model. Everyone's condition is different, and the way that each person lives his or her life is different. What is important is that one utilizes one's intellect and not to be 100 percent sure about one's convictions. One should always leave room for doubt.

Europe clearly is the only place where people can speak up critically, and this is a unique cultural value.