Mohamed ElBaradei Interview

Before we discuss your present work, we'd like to hear something about your childhood and your parents. What kind of work did they do, and how do you think that influenced your own personal journey?

Mohamed ElBaradei: My father was a lawyer. My mother was a homemaker.

My father was president of the Egyptian Bar Association. He was involved very much during the Nasser era -- which was one of the most repressive eras in Egyptian history -- in fighting for democracy, fighting for human rights, and I think that to a lot of extent shaped my view as to what I wanted to do in the future. I wanted to have a world where people are free to express their views, to have freedom of worship, to have freedom from want, and I saw poverty in Egypt when I grew up. To me, freedom, in the larger sense -- to be able to speak, to worship, free from want, free from fear -- I think it was a key as to what I thought I would like to do when I grow up.
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Did you have any siblings?

Mohamed ElBaradei: I had two sisters and two brothers. I was the eldest. So I was sort of a role model for my siblings.

When did you first think about going into law?

Mohamed ElBaradei: It always was on my mind, I think, to be a lawyer. I guess I thought law would give me the opportunity to work as a social engineer, if you like, to try to develop a society that is free, that is at peace with itself. I always wanted to be a lawyer. I'm not sure that I was influenced by my father.

I think I was just influenced by the environment under which I am living. I lived in an upper middle-class community, so I didn't really, personally, have to suffer any of -- at least, you know -- freedom from want or any of that stuff, but there was always fear around. You know, there was always fear around, and I saw that my father at one point was harassed just (for) trying to speak freely, and that actually affected me deeply, and I thought law is the best way for me to influence the shape of the future.
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What was he harassed about? What was he trying to say?

Mohamed ElBaradei: During the Nasser time -- the 1960s -- he was calling for multi-party democracy, calling for freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and he was harassed. He was harassed by the state authorities in subtle and unsubtle ways.

What kind of unsubtle ways?

Mohamed ElBaradei: Trying to tap our telephone conversations, trying to discourage people from going to him as a lawyer, trying to sort of restrict his practices, lots of what you call "dirty tricks."

Were they effective in suppressing him?

Mohamed ElBaradei: No, they were not. I mean, my father was a very low-key person, very short, very affable person, but he had an iron will, and I don't think it affected him. I think he continued believing in what he believed in. He continued to speak his mind. In my view, he died as a hero.

When was that?

Mohamed ElBaradei: 1977.

So he did not live to see the situation you're in today.

Mohamed ElBaradei: No, he did not. I always hate it, but he did not.

So you had seen an example of the strength and courage to speak out, even though you're being harassed.

Mohamed ElBaradei: Sure. I thought it should not affect you. I think if you have a larger cause to serve, that's much more important than being intimidated by personal harassment.

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