Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Author of Infidel
About the Author
Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born in Somalia and raised a Muslim. She grew up in Africa and Saudi Arabia before seeking asylum in 1992 in the Netherlands, where she went from cleaning factories to winning a seat in the Dutch Parliament. She is a speaker, journalist, and founder of the AHA Foundation. She show more has written several books including Infidel, Nomad, The Caged Virgin, and Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Photograph by Rineke Dijkstra
Works by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations (2010) 776 copies, 31 reviews
The Challenge of Dawa 7 copies
The Battle of Ideas: Can the beliefs that feed terrorism be changed : CIS Occasional Paper 149 (2016) 1 copy
සිරගත කන්යාවී 1 කොටස 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Hirsi Ali, Ayaan
- Other names
- Hirsi Magan, Ayaan
- Birthdate
- 1969-11-13
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Leiden University (MSc|Political Science)
- Occupations
- politician
interpreter
Member of Dutch Parliament, Lower House
writer - Organizations
- American Enterprise Institute
the AHA Foundation
Hoover Institution - Awards and honors
- Danish Freedom Prize (2004)
Nova Civitas Prize of Liberty (2004)
Time Magazine: "one of the 100 most influential people in the world" (2005)
Swedish Democracy Prize (2005)
Norway's Human Rights Service's Bellwether of the Year Award (2005)
Harriet Freezerring Emancipation Prize (2005) (show all 15)
Madrid Tolerance Prize (2005)
Glas der Vernunft (2006)
Moral Courage Award, American Jewish Committee (2006)
Goldwater Award (2007)
Simone de Beauvoir Prize (2008)
Anisfield-Wolf Book Award (2008)
Emperor Has No Clothes Award (2010)
Philip Merrill Award for Outstanding Contributions to Liberal Arts Education (2016)
Oxi Day Courage Award (2017) - Relationships
- Ferguson, Niall (husband)
- Nationality
- Somalia (birth)
Netherlands (naturalized 1997)
USA (naturalized 2013) - Birthplace
- Mogadishu, Somalia
- Places of residence
- Somalia
Ethiopia
Saudi Arabia
Kenya
Netherlands
USA - Associated Place (for map)
- Mogadishu, Somalia
Members
Reviews
I will admit - before I read this book, I thought that Islam itself was a religion of peace, and that rabid/fundamentalist Muslims had only chosen to interpret the book as they chose, (just like fundamentalist Christians) but Ayaan is clear and crisp in her explanation of the religion she grew up and how she came to realize the truth. The fact that so many Muslims want her death is evidence enough of that fact.
After reading this book, I went on the Internet to look for her film 'Submission'. show more It's a short film but with a powerful message. I thought it was beautifully done.
For anyone - Christian, Muslim, atheist, this book is a fascinating and informative read. Ayaan's analysis and thoughts are clear and cutting, and the reason so many Muslims hate her is because she speaks the truth that fundamentalist Muslims have no desire to hear, much less admit. But it's also a powerful message about religion itself, and not just Islam.
Update as of 2026) Other religions are just as guilty of fundamentalism. You have many peaceful Muslims who just want to live quiet lives and take care of their families and be happy, who have no interest in jihads or holy war or any of that, and many peaceful Muslims and Middle East folks are being terrorized by fundamentalists and whack jobs. show less
After reading this book, I went on the Internet to look for her film 'Submission'. show more It's a short film but with a powerful message. I thought it was beautifully done.
For anyone - Christian, Muslim, atheist, this book is a fascinating and informative read. Ayaan's analysis and thoughts are clear and cutting, and the reason so many Muslims hate her is because she speaks the truth that fundamentalist Muslims have no desire to hear, much less admit. But it's also a powerful message about religion itself, and not just Islam.
Update as of 2026) Other religions are just as guilty of fundamentalism. You have many peaceful Muslims who just want to live quiet lives and take care of their families and be happy, who have no interest in jihads or holy war or any of that, and many peaceful Muslims and Middle East folks are being terrorized by fundamentalists and whack jobs. show less
I was captivated by Ayaan Hirsi Ali's life story. So many women are trapped in these fundamentalist cultures and never have a chance. She managed to get out and is now a voice for these women. Oddly enough, this book reminded me of "Escape" by Carolyn Jessop, who risked her life to leave the FLDS with all 8 (if I remember correctly) of her children. Both women were able to escape from insular, oppressive living conditions because they worked hard to get an education that would support them, show more so they did not have to rely on other men for support. In Ali's case, she was able to become a member of Parliament in Holland, where she spoke out fiercely (and I do mean fiercely!!) for the rights of muslim women living in her adopted country.
One of the controversial aspects of this book is her strong (some people might say extreme) belief that the suppression/oppression of women comes directly from the central tenets of Islam. I can not address this aspect of the book, as my knowledge of Islam is quite limited. I am aware that many Muslims live fulfilling, happy and peaceful lives within their faith. I do believe that any religion can be used to abuse others when too rigidly interpreted. The book is well-written and honest, in the sense that Ali's strong beliefs are the result of her own experiences. I know this is a book I will revisit often. show less
One of the controversial aspects of this book is her strong (some people might say extreme) belief that the suppression/oppression of women comes directly from the central tenets of Islam. I can not address this aspect of the book, as my knowledge of Islam is quite limited. I am aware that many Muslims live fulfilling, happy and peaceful lives within their faith. I do believe that any religion can be used to abuse others when too rigidly interpreted. The book is well-written and honest, in the sense that Ali's strong beliefs are the result of her own experiences. I know this is a book I will revisit often. show less
The premise of this book is so obvious that it is alarming to think we need a book to present its case. Why is it, Ali asks, that nice white people* are against Islamic dissidents? (*expression I adopted after reading Stuff White People Like)
and later….
The more I think about this situation, and think of females I know who consider themselves to be radical feminists lining up to take shots (do I mean that figuratively?) at Ali and others whose lives are threatened every day for urging Islamic reform, I come to my conclusion that anti-racism is the last bastion of sexism. To be seen as anti-racist is the only important mark of being a nice white person left. By defining concern about the plight of women under Islam to be this invented propaganda word ‘Islamophobia’, it has been straightforwardly established that women don’t count at all. And even females who call themselves ‘feminist’ are terrified of this accusation of being an ‘Islamophobic’.
rest here: https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpress.com/2018/05/26/heretic-by-ayaan-hirsi-al... show less
Shortly after the attack on Charlie Hebdo, Asra Noumani, a Muslim reformer, spoke out against what she calls the ‘honour brigade’ – an organised international cabal hell-bent on silencing debate on Islam.show more
The shameful thing is that this campaign is
effective in the West. Western liberals now seem to collude against critical thought and debate. I never cease to be amazed by the fact that non-Muslims who consider themselves liberals – including feminists and advocates of gay rights – are so readily persuaded by these crass means to take the Islamists’ side against Muslim and non-Muslim critics.
and later….
In short, we who have the luxury of living in the West have an obligation to stand up for liberal principles. Multiculturalism should not mean that we tolerate another culture’s intolerance. If we do in fact support diversity, women’s rights, and gay rights, then we cannot in good conscience give Islam a free pass on the grounds of multicultural sensitivity. And we need to say unambiguously to Muslims living in the West: if you want to live in our societies, to share in their material benefits, then you need to accept that our freedoms are not optional. They are the foundation of our way of life; of our civilisation – a civilisation that learned, slowly and painfully, not to burn heretics but to honour them.
The more I think about this situation, and think of females I know who consider themselves to be radical feminists lining up to take shots (do I mean that figuratively?) at Ali and others whose lives are threatened every day for urging Islamic reform, I come to my conclusion that anti-racism is the last bastion of sexism. To be seen as anti-racist is the only important mark of being a nice white person left. By defining concern about the plight of women under Islam to be this invented propaganda word ‘Islamophobia’, it has been straightforwardly established that women don’t count at all. And even females who call themselves ‘feminist’ are terrified of this accusation of being an ‘Islamophobic’.
rest here: https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpress.com/2018/05/26/heretic-by-ayaan-hirsi-al... show less
This is not just a straight linear story of Ayaan's life, or volume 3 thereof. She follows several of her family members, giving their story and showing their problems, quite simply how Islam messed with their heads, all of them and prevented them leading a 'normal' life. All this is interweaved with her own history but much more reflective than her previous volumes as to the how and why. For that reason it's slightly less accessible than Infidel. She identifies the three key problems facing show more Muslim refugees as 'sex, violence and money' due to the completely different attitudes towards them in the West'. Her experiences in the Netherlands working with refugees give weight to what she says.
Ayaan is uncompromising in her description of the violence and subjugation of women that Islam produces. She is also uncompromising in her denunciation of Western tolerance towards Islam, its welcoming of all things multicultural and the West's refusal to criticise Islam lest it upset people.
As an atheist I find her suggestion that Christians ought to proselytise more in order that Muslims can transfer their religious beliefs from Allah to God unpleasant but understandable. It strengthens the need for atheism to be seen as a positive force rather than a vacuum.
She writes clearly and concisely in a very calm manner considering the tale that she is telling. This strengthens her voice and makes it louder. She is impassioned and yet reasoned. This is a book that everyone ought to read, not just women, not just westerners. show less
Ayaan is uncompromising in her description of the violence and subjugation of women that Islam produces. She is also uncompromising in her denunciation of Western tolerance towards Islam, its welcoming of all things multicultural and the West's refusal to criticise Islam lest it upset people.
As an atheist I find her suggestion that Christians ought to proselytise more in order that Muslims can transfer their religious beliefs from Allah to God unpleasant but understandable. It strengthens the need for atheism to be seen as a positive force rather than a vacuum.
She writes clearly and concisely in a very calm manner considering the tale that she is telling. This strengthens her voice and makes it louder. She is impassioned and yet reasoned. This is a book that everyone ought to read, not just women, not just westerners. show less
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- Works
- 17
- Also by
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- Members
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- Popularity
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- Rating
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- Reviews
- 281
- ISBNs
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- Favorited
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