Quote by Taslima Nasrin: “Freedom of expression is the oxygen of democracy. Without it, society suffocates and dies.”

This quote uses a vital metaphor to illustrate the absolute necessity of free expression for a healthy democratic society, implying that suppressing voices leads to the death of open discourse, critical thinking, and ultimately, societal progress and vitality.

Nasrin continued her advocacy for free speech and secularism from exile, giving numerous interviews and publishing essays. This period saw increased global concern for free expression in the face of rising religious fundamentalism and political censorship.

Bangladeshi author and secularist activist, born in Mymensingh in 1962, known for her unflinching criticism of religious fundamentalism and her advocacy for women's rights. Her novel Lajja led to death threats and eventually forced exile, and she remains one of the most controversial literary figures in South Asian history.