‘Indifference Is Not Permissible’

Do you believe that the Velvet Revolution would have been possible if [former Soviet leader Mikhail] Gorbachev had not instituted perestroika [reform]? How likely is a similar revolution in countries that are currently under totalitarian rule?

I don’t know if these two situations can be compared, but in the case of Iran, there is a powerful opposition of young people against the fundamentalist government. The international interest in the opposition is very important. It is also important that non-governmental organizations and the media support the opposition in a useful, effective way. This goes for all countries that suffer from dictatorship, not only in the Muslim world, but also in Russia and Cuba. I believe it is faulty to emphasize the religion in this respect, because fundamental Christians can and did cause great, a lot of grave events in history as well. In principle, all religions are peaceful.

In October, you cowrote an op-ed for the New York Times on North Korea and the humanitarian crisis there. What do you think needs to be the next step taken by the international community to protect the North Korean people?

The situation in North Korea is very grim. Much of the budget goes to military spending, while the country is ridden with famine. There is great poverty, there are gulags, and we think that something needs to be done. The op-ed letter was done along with Elie Wiesel and Kjell Magne Bondevik, to accompany a report sponsored by the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. The point is that it is not enough if a certain weapons factory is shut down—the regime will just start again somewhere else. I’ve met a number of people who were in North Korean prisons and managed to get out and live in exile. It is important to listen to them and address these human-rights violations in North Korea.

You have spoken about how you were inspired by the U.S. civil-rights movement, the women’s movement, and that you saw the United States as a beacon of freedom. Do you think anti-terrorism measures such as the Patriot Act are having a significant effect on civil liberties in America?

I have to say that I encounter a certain type of tolerance here which is fascinating. Americans have a love for freedom illustrated by flags on every third house and that people put flags everywhere on their clothes. It seems somewhat funny, but the spirit of it comes through. I am reminded of the situation of Malcolm X who returned to America from a trip abroad, and despite all the persecution here, he claimed that it is still the most free country anywhere.