Considering the weight the title carries, you shouldn’t be surprised if you don’t recognize the name. Far too often in our culture we look up to those who aren’t above us in a respectable way. We look up to the rich and famous, even if they reached their status through corrupt means. Ayaan Hirsi Ali attained her fame by being inarguably moral, undoubtedly brave, and astonishingly smart.
Born in Somalia, Ayaan grew up as a Muslim in the violent Darod clan. She supported a fatwa (opinion or decree handed down from a Muslim religious leader) calling for the death of Salman Rushdie, an ex-Muslim who wrote The Satanic Verses, a book mirroring the evils of the Quran. Today, Ayaan is an ex-Muslim who lives under constant protection from Muslim extremists due to her work, which includes the three books Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations, The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam, and Infidel. Escaping an arranged marriage, Ayaan fled to Holland, claiming she was a political refugee. Then, she gradually lost her faith. While in Holland, Ayaan helped filmmaker Theo Van Gogh with the controversial Submission, a short film about Islam and the status of Muslim women, a subject very dear to Ayaan. It’s very dear to her because she is a victim of the sexist laws of religion. Shortly after the film’s release, Theo Van Gogh was stabbed in the chest by an enraged Muslim while walking along an Amsterdam street. Attached to the blade that rested in Van Gogh’s chest was a death threat to Ayaan.
Undaunted by the dangers of her work, Ayaan Hirsi Ali still fights for women’s rights. She still fights for government’s enforcement of western laws on Muslim immigrants. She still fights for the separation of religion and government. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is to be looked up to as a free thinker and feminist in the face of extremism.