Every time I am fearful I think to myself, the reason they do this is to discourage me from doing what I do. Hence, if I discontinue my work I will have succumbed to my fears.

Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or her country of origin, religion, descent, or any other ground.

Lawyers should not be charged with the same crimes as their clients. Trials related to political charges are not in accordance with human rights.

I have said many times that I wish there was no oil in the Middle East, and more water. People would have been much happier than they are right now.

Fear is a human instinct, just like hunger. Whether you like it or not, you become hungry. Similarly with fear. But I have learned to train myself to live with the fear.

My aim is to show that those governments that violate the rights of people by invoking the name of Islam have been misusing Islam.

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.