'Fundamentalists should speak to me'

Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has said that fundamentalists who objected to her writing should speak to her directly instead of taking to the streets.

"If you have to protest against my views, write like I do. If you try to browbeat me there cannot be any fair discussion," Taslima, who will leave for Europe on Sunday, told PTI in Kolkata.

Discussions and not street protests were the hallmark of a civilised society, she said.

• Taslima wants permanent residence in India

"In a society, groups, political parties have right to freely express their views without fear. Can't I enjoy the same right?" she asked.

She said those who held public demonstrations in Kolkata against here were a 'miniscule section' of the Muslim community.

"Do they represent the views of the large moderate Muslim community? I wonder," Taslima said.

• Also read: 'You can't kill a uniformed officer like this'

The writer hopes to be back in Kolkata between the end of August and first week of September if either her appeal for citizenship or residential permit was granted or the external affairs ministry heeded her appeal for another tourist visa.

Taslima, who has been in exile in Europe from 1994 after fundamentalists issued a fatwa against her for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, had appealed to the Union home ministry in February for Indian citizenship or residential permit stating she wished to live among her own people in Bengal.