I am a daughter of a British mother and an Egyptian Muslim father. When I was brought up, I saw my mother open and meeting my father's friends. But when I went to some of my friends' homes, their mothers were not allowed to meet men. I didn't like it. I didn't like it at all, even though I was a child of 8 years old. When I was a child I used to go to the library very close to us and read books about women who have done something in this life, like Madame Curie, like Florence Nightingale, who was the first nurse, like Helen Keller. You know, the great women made me feel I can do something for my own people, if I have the opportunity.
Many of the American people here, they want to know about me and my husband [Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated in 1981], about our experiences, about what we did. At the beginning of our marriage, my husband was shocked when he saw me with his friends, hosting them and coming and going. He was not used to this way. But he was used to it later on, of course.
(Photo by David Deal)
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My husband was a man for peace. Both of us knew it very, very well that we were going to pay the price. We knew it. We received many threats. Even before receiving the threats, we knew. But it didn't stop my husband. I knew that I was going to lose him. And he knew it, also. But we didn't try to talk about it.
All that he has done is a legacy that will live forever. Whenever I go home they tell me about my husband. Even today, the captain of the plane sent me his card, telling me that: "I am honored to have you on the plane. I am honored to tell you that your husband was my hero and we respected him so much." He died, yes, it is 23 years now. But his legacy is still alive. He's gone. Let me continue his work. Let me continue teaching. This is my mission. I have to give it till the last breath of my life.
-- Interview by Tyler Currie
