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Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a Somali‐born Dutch feminist activist, thinker, politician and author, best known for her outspoken critique of Islamist extremism and her advocacy for women’s rights and the prevention of gender-based violence. Born on November 13, 1969 in Mogadishu, Somalia, she was raised in a traditional Muslim environment before fleeing into exile at the age of eight.
Early Life and Exile
Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born into a devout Muslim family in Mogadishu. Her father, a political opponent of Siad Barre’s regime, spent time in prison. At age four she underwent female genital mutilation, and at eight her family fled Somalia, seeking refuge first in Saudi Arabia, then Ethiopia and Kenya.
Education and Entry into Politics
In 1992 Hirsi Ali applied for asylum in the Netherlands. While working as a Somali-Dutch interpreter, she studied political science at Leiden University. In 2003 she was elected to the Dutch Parliament as a member of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).
“Submission” and Its Aftermath
In 2004 Hirsi Ali wrote the screenplay for the short film Submission, directed by Theo van Gogh, which condemned the mistreatment of women under certain interpretations of Islam. The film sparked outrage among extremists, culminating in van Gogh’s murder and serious death threats against Hirsi Ali.
Citizenship Controversy and Cabinet Collapse
In 2006 a political battle erupted over whether to revoke Hirsi Ali’s Dutch citizenship because of allegedly false information on her asylum application. On June 27 the government decided not to strip her of citizenship, but the controversy led to the fall of the Dutch cabinet on June 29, 2006.
Move to the United States and Hoover Institution
In September 2006 Hirsi Ali relocated to the United States and joined the conservative American Enterprise Institute. She is currently a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
AHA Foundation and Women’s Rights Advocacy
In 2007 she founded the AHA Foundation, dedicated to defending women and girls from forced marriage, female genital mutilation and other forms of gender-based violence perpetuated in the name of Islam.
Publications and Recognition
Among her major works are the memoir Infidel, The Caged Virgin and Nomad: From Islam to America. She has been named by The Guardian and Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential intellectuals in the world.
Personal Life
Since 2011 she has been married to historian Niall Ferguson. In 2013 she became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Throughout her career, Ayaan Hirsi Ali has shaped a global conversation on Islamic reform and women’s rights, earning international prominence as a bold voice against religious extremism.