I accepted the interviews and encounters that had to be held with the media, but I would have preferred to work in peace.

I love Sufism as I love beautiful poetry, but it is not the answer. Sufism is like a mirage in the desert. It says to you, come and sit, relax and enjoy yourself for a while.

I've never worked in politics, never been a member of an official committee or a political party.

God did not intend religion to be an exercise club.

If you want to move people, you look for a point of sensitivity, and in Egypt nothing moves people as much as religion.

Today's interpretations of religion are often backward and contradict the needs of civilization.

If we reject science, we reject the common man.

History is full of people who went to prison or were burned at the stake for proclaiming their ideas. Society has always defended itself.

I believe society has a right to defend itself, just as the individual has the right to attack that with which he disagrees.

I defend both the freedom of expression and society's right to counter it. I must pay the price for differing. It is the natural way of things.