Women’s History Month: Ayaan Hirsi Ali
In honor of Women’s History Month 2011, I’ve selected one woman to profile every day from March 1st - March 31st, 2011.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Ex-Muslim turned atheist activist, prominent critic of Islam, former Dutch politician, fellow at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, screenwriter, author, and founder/president of the AHA Foundation
At first, I was a little “eh, I dunno if this is a good idea,” because Hirsi Ali has promoted some problematic shit. This isn’t to take away from those problematic, shitty ideas. Ideological purity isn’t the point of this project. If it were, I would have never featured Lolita Lebrón yesterday. Cause, y’know, if you aren’t clear, I’m not hep on riddling government buildings and employees with bullets. Just sayin.
With that being said, if nothing else, she deserves a place on this list for her role in making Submission, the short film that resulted in fatwas against her and filmmaker Theo Van Gogh (leading to Van Gogh’s highly publicised death). Look, Van Gogh sounded like a giant asshole, but… Well, if you’ve been reading my blog for this long, you’re probably good on that.
(Obligatory note: I’m not intending to single out Islam for misogyny or violence, because there’s more than enough evidence that many organized religions promote some pretty violent and misogynist shit. Dude, atheist, remember? I have no love for any religion.)
Links: Wikipedia page
AHA Wikipedia page
AHA Foundation
AEI bio (includes links to her writings and public appearances)
The Caged Virgin: Holland’s shameful treatment of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. (Christopher Hitchens)
Bonfire of the Intellectuals: Paul Berman’s outraged attack on Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s attackers.
Douglas Murray and Cristina Odone on Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Taking the fight to Islam: In 1989, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali Muslim, supported the fatwa against Salman Rushdie. But on moving to Europe her views changed and she turned against Islam. Two years ago she fled Holland after the brutal murder of her artistic collaborator Theo van Gogh. Who is this fierce critic who lives under the constant threat of death?
Islamism: How should Western intellectuals respond to Muslim scholars?
Nick Kristof’s Unhinged Attack on Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Furor over author Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s visit stirs debate on religious freedom
The Gadfly
Why white people like Ayaan Hirsi Ali
