National Writers Series: An Evening with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Political Activist and Best-Selling Author of Infidel with guest host Jack Segal -
top NATO Adviser on Afghanistan and Former U.S. Diplomat. As one of today's most admired and controversial political figures, Ayaan Hirsi Ali burst into international headlines following the 2004 murder of her colleague, Theo van Gogh, at the hands of a religious fundamentalist. Ayaan was immediately forced into hiding, having written the screenplay for Theo's Submission, a fierce 11-minute critique of Islam. The treatment of women in the Islamic religion has been a clarion call for the Somolia-born Ayaan. At age 22, she fled to the Netherlands to escape an arranged marriage to a stranger. Her move to this secular, democratic country proved a pivotal turning point in her life. She began advocating for downtrodden women, attended college and was elected to the Dutch parliament.
Ayaan's memoir Infidel was an international best-seller, praised by The New York Times as "brave, inspiring and beautifully written." A second book, Nomad, follows Ayaan as she leaves behind the emotional roller coaster of her life in Europe and takes on the new challenge of helping Americans acknowledge the challenge of radical Islam. Now a U.S. resident with her husband, well-known British historian Niall Ferguson, Ayaan is the founder of the AHA Foundation, which works to "protect and defend the rights of women and girls in the West from oppression justified by religion and culture."
During this evening, co-sponsored with the International Affairs Forum, Ayaan will be in conversation with foreign policy expert Jack Segal. This is sure to be an evening during which the world's headlines come to life on the NWS stage. Be prepared for a riveting conversation between the two on faith, women, politics, religion and culture in a changing century.

• Category

  News & Politics

[david odell]

what a fantastic woman

[luidemila26]

I admire this great lady. She is smart and courageous.

[steamnature]

How authentic is she in her narratives; do you know?

[xyz2614]

While speaking about the anectods please check your references. I live in Turkey and have not seen any1 being stonned for not wearing headscarf. Where this gentlemen is referring in Turkey? It is not obvious. Actually in my opinion it may not be genuine story either.

[SuperBabyBuddah]

Not knowing what the fuck you're talking about is not a handicap to you. Bravo.

[SuperBabyBuddah]

In Kenya she read mostly novels. Love stories and such. Her political education started when she attended school in Holland. The first time she read books that made her feel like a heathen was in Holland. She felt like she was risking eternal hellfire by reading these books because these books instilled in her concepts which would not have been approved by her family, tribe, or Mullahs. I'm not saying this education is not possible in Kenya. But in Ayaan's case it did not happen until Holland.

[bananajoe090]

extraordinary person

[forgottenmemories63]

I'm not a Great fan of reading big books, I always found it boring.. But I must say her Book "Infidel" was an interesting read.

[bliss252]

um, excuse me KENYA is not and has never been a failed state.Surely she meant Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia?? Credit where it's due Ayan.. Kenya MADE this woman who she is today. It's where she learned English, read the books she read, where she was free to exercise her critical thinking and from where she found her way to Holland. Credit where it's due please.

[Laureld Smith]

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