“Historically, Islam was hijacked about 20 or 30 years after the Prophet and interpreted in such a way that the ruler has absolute power and is accountable only to God. That, of course, was a very convenient interpretation for whoever was the ruler.”

Egyptian lawyer, diplomat, and politician

Mohamed Mostafa ElBaradei is an Egyptian lawyer, diplomat, and politician. He is known for leading the International Atomic Energy Agency as Director General from 1997 to 2009, and for serving as Egypt’s interim vice president in 2013. His public career moved between law, diplomacy, and politics, with his best-known international role at the IAEA. In Egypt, he later took on a brief constitutional role during a period of political change. His profile is tied to public service and international affairs.