I consider Khomeini's position dangerous. He does not have the right to pass judgment-that is not the Islamic way.

According to Islamic principles, when a man is accused of heresy, he is given the choice between repentance and punishment.

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.

Hosni Mubarak... his constitution is not democratic, but he is democratic. We can voice our opinions now. The press is free.

The Arab world also won the Nobel with me. I believe that international doors have opened, and that from now on, literate people will consider Arab literature also. We deserve that recognition.

We are like a woman with a difficult pregnancy. We have to rebuild the social classes in Egypt, and we must change the way things were.