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Spare a thought for all the dissidents, activists, journalists, and private citizens in the Arab world who get beaten, arrested, tortured, murdered without being passed tips and without being offered protection. They are the real heroes, and they are the real victims. Not me.
It doesn't take special courage for me to continue to be a highly visible activist and a loud voice in Norway. If you want to see courage, look at those who are visible activists and voices in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Syria, Gaza, Algeria, and elsewhere.
When I lived in the UAE, I had to self censor. It was always part of your strategic calculations - how far can I push the limit without ending up in prison? There are countries where it takes more courage to merely retweet a message, than it takes to hold a presser in Oslo.
My activism and my voice continue to be an expression of love, gratitude, and awe of my brave sisters and brothers in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan, Palestine, Sudan, Algeria, and elsewhere. My career is a dedication to them.
People ask me: "You've put yourself in so much danger. Do you ever consider stopping?" No, I never do and it's never even crossed my mind. I'm not in prison and I'm not dead. My comrades are. I will not stop fighting for the values they fought and continue to fight for.
I said it then and I'm saying it again: Our liberty, or we die trying. Our dignity, or we die trying.
