Religion was used as an ideology, as a system of control. When they forced the veil upon women, they were using it as an instrument of control in the same way that in Maos China people were wearing Mao jackets and women were not supposed to wear any makeup. – Azar Nafisi
When I first left Iran at the age of 13, Iran had become such a shining star – it was the point to which all my desires and dreams returned. – Azar Nafisi
Basically, fundamentalism is a modern phenomenon. In the same way that Hitler evoked a mythological religion of German purity and the glory of the past, the Islamists use religion to evoke emotions and passions in people who have been oppressed for a long time in order to reach their purpose. – Azar Nafisi
I see people who talk about America, and then undermine it by not paying attention to its soul, to its poetry. I see polarization, reductionism and superficiality. – Azar Nafisi
My political ideas and things like that, even my religion, I try to keep close to me because its a personal thing, and I dont shove it down peoples throats. I dont condemn any artist that wants to do that, like the Baldwins. Thats their choice. But in my world, Im just an entertainer. – Donny Osmond