I have been writing poetry since 1975. My first poetry book was published in 1986. Taslima Nasrin More Quotes by Taslima Nasrin More Quotes From Taslima Nasrin Religion is now the first obstacle to women's advancement. Religion pulls human beings backwards, it goes against science and progressiveness. Religion engulfs people with a fear of the supernatural. It bars people from laughing and never allows people to exercise their choice. Taslima Nasrin exerciselaughingpeople I don't find any difference between Islam and Islamic fundamentalists. I believe religion is the root, and from the root fundamentalism grows as a poisonous stem. If we remove fundamentalism and keep religion, then one day or another fundamentalism will grow again. I need to say that because some liberals always defend Islam and blame fundamentalists for creating problems. But Islam itself oppresses women. Islam itself doesn't permit democracy and it violates human rights. Taslima Nasrin islamicrightsbelieve I believe in absolute freedom of expression. Everyone has a right to offend and be offended. Taslima Nasrin offended-youexpressionbelieve Nature says women are human beings, men have made religions to deny it. Nature says women are human beings, men cry out no! Taslima Nasrin crybeing-memen Every religion oppresses women. I talk about the Koran because I know this book best. It allows for torture and other mistreatment, especially for women. And I despise the Sharia laws. They cannot be changed. They must be thrown out, abolished. Taslima Nasrin lawbookreligion I support the rights of all people to practice their religious beliefs privately, but I oppose the idea of respecting religions. In truth, I have no respect for any religion. I believe religion is not compatible with human rights, women's rights, or freedom of expression. Taslima Nasrin religiousrightsbelieve I strongly believe that no one can be a true feminist without being an atheist. All religions are anti-women. No one can be pro-woman while supporting anti-woman dogmas. Taslima Nasrin feministatheistbelieve It is unfair to label me anti-Islam. I am an atheist and a secular humanist. Taslima Nasrin islamlabelsatheist Women are oppressed in the east, in the west, in the south, in the north. Women are oppressed inside, outside home, a woman is oppressed in religion, she is oppressed outside religion. Taslima Nasrin eastwesthome Religion, society and state - from none of these do women get their proper honor. It is religion, which has created an unparalleled disparity between men and women. Taslima Nasrin honormenreligion I am an atheist. I do not believe in prayers, I believe in work. And my work is that of an author. My pen is my weapon. Taslima Nasrin atheistprayerbelieve Koranic teaching still insists that the sun moves around the earth. How can we advance when they teach things like that? Taslima Nasrin atheismteachingmoving It is said that peace is the basic tenet of all religion. Yet it is in the name of religion that there has been so much disturbance, bloodshed and persecution. It is indeed a pity that even at the close of the twentieth century we've had to witness such atrocities because of religion. Flying the flag of religion has always proved the easiest way to crush to nothingness human beings as well as the spirit of humanity. Taslima Nasrin crushflyingnames I dont agree with those who think that the conflict is simply between two religions, namely Christianity and Islam... To me, the key conflict is between irrational blind faith and rational, logical minds. Taslima Nasrin keystwothinking I believe that if the silent majority were to protest against those who believe in irrational blind faith - who want to go backwards instead of forward, who are for tradition not innovation, who oppose individualism and plurality of thought - then the world would become a truly civilized world in which to live. Taslima Nasrin majorityinnovationbelieve I have had fatwas issued against me, some three in Bangladesh and another five in India. I will not be cowed by these threats and shall fight for my rights. Taslima Nasrin indiafightingrights The fundamentalists are increasing. People, afraid to oppose those fundamentalists, shut their mouths. It is really very difficult to make people move against a sensitive issue like religion, which is the source of fundamentalism. Taslima Nasrin issuespeoplemoving I have lectured at the U.N. and travelled widely, giving lectures on human rights and gender inequalities in universities. But this is a life I do not wish to live. I don't want to be a showcase, I want to be in a battlefield where I can stand beside the oppressed and the poor. Taslima Nasrin rightswishgiving In traditional societies, we have a long legacy of men controlling the body and mind of women. Such societies have valorised motherhood and fabricated concepts like chastity. Women have been the victims of these notions for thousands of years. Taslima Nasrin motherhoodmenyears I write against the religion because if women want to live like human beings, they will have to live outside the religion and Islamic law. Taslima Nasrin islamiclawwriting
