Q: What could be the reason for Mamata Banerjee not allowing you to stay in Kolkata?
Taslima: I don't know. Ask her. May be it's her political compulsion. Last time, the West Bengal government created a riot like situation to force me out of West Bengal.
Q: What did Union Minister Rajnath Singh tell you when you met him?
Taslima: Rajnath Singh said he was sympathetic to me and that I should not worry about my residence permit and that I'll get it. I gave him my book 'Wo Andhere Din' and he said,” Aapka Andhere Din Khatam Ho Jayega” . Anyway, I'll see what happens after 2 months.
Q: You had taken an open stand against Islam in the past, especially its treatment of women. What are the main points on which you have differences with Islam?
Taslima: I have talked about all religions, not only Islam. And my main concern is woman empowerment, women emancipation. In Islam, there are issues like Sharia laws, man can have four wives but a woman can't have four husbands, child custody and inheritance, man can divorce anytime but a woman can't do the same. I have fought against these issues. Women do not get equal rights. Men get more, women get less.
Q: Tell me one thing, as far as injustice against women is concerned, do you believe that there are inherent flaws in Islam or it's just the wrong interpretation that has to be blamed?
Taslima: It's a mix of both. As far as religion is concerned, there are fundamental flaws indeed. But the point is that these things were written thousands of years back and now we need modern laws for gender equality. As far as Islam is concerned, there are definite flaws that go against women but I would say Islam gives more rights to women compared to any other religion. In Islam, both man and woman get share in parent's property. But having more rights is not enough for me; my fight is for equal rights.
