Some criticize me, thinking I'm too tolerant of the clerical regime in Iran. In response, I have to say, I have served time in prison, I have lost my position [as a judge]. Do I need to prove that I am brave? Do I need to be killed?

Akbar Ganji is a human rights activist in Iran and he works on freedom of expression and he does his job very well.

Unfortunately the situation of human rights in Iran isn't improving. Some of the newspapers were shut down and the government didn't try to reopen the newspapers that were shut down before. And the laws are as bad as before.

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

Usually, in any revolution people are focused on who wants to have the most power. But the most important thing is the laws that are written during that time.

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.

No American soldier should be allowed to set foot on Iranian soil, regardless of the criticism we have of the Iranian government.