Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a Somali-born Dutch-American writer, activist, and politician known for her advocacy for women’s rights, free speech, and secularism. She was born on November 13, 1969, in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Hirsi Ali grew up in a strict Muslim family and underwent female genital mutilation when she was a child. After moving to the Netherlands as a refugee in the early 1990s, she became a prominent voice against Islamic extremism and violence against women.
Hirsi Ali’s memoir, “Infidel,” published in 2007, recounts her journey from Somalia to the Netherlands and her eventual rejection of Islam. She has since published several other books, including “Nomad,” “Heretic,” and “Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women’s Rights.”
Hirsi Ali has been a vocal critic of Islam, arguing that it is an inherently oppressive and violent religion. She has also been a strong advocate for women’s rights and has spoken out against practices such as forced marriage and honor killings. Her views have often been controversial, and she has faced criticism and threats of violence from some Muslim groups.
In addition to her work as a writer and activist, Hirsi Ali has also been involved in politics. She served as a member of the Dutch parliament from 2003 to 2006 and has since founded the AHA Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting women’s rights and combating honor violence and forced marriage.
Overall, Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a courageous and outspoken advocate for women’s rights and free speech, and her work has had a significant impact on the global conversation about Islam and its role in society.
