Infidel - by Ayaan Hirsh-Ali

[Wordsgood]

Has anyone read this? It is an autobiographical account of and by a woman raised to be a "good Muslim girl" in the clan run society of poverty-stricken Somalia. Fleeing an arranged marraige, she escaped to the Netherlands, obtained an education and became a Dutch politican. Using this platform, Hirsh-Ali worked as an outspoken advocate of women's rights in the Muslim world. For this she was hunted and her partner in the making of the short film Fitna, (a moving representation of the abuse heaped upon Muslim women), was murdered in broad daylight. The killer left his calling card on the body with a warning that she would be next, attracting worldwide media attention. Essentially forced out of her office and the country, she still fights on. Hers is a voice that cannot be silenced.

This is a heart-wrenching, thought-provoking and shocking kick in the seat to all of us. Her courage is beyond belief. The world needs more Hirsh-Ali's. When we will as a race stop killing subjugating and killing each other? Why is religion - in this, the space age - still dividing us and leading some to commit atrocities in the name of their god? Fair or not, it falls upon all of us to band together and make clear it cannot, must not, be allowed to continue.....................

[Eric]

Infidel is an excellent book, as is her previous book The Caged Virgin. Here's a link to Submission, part 1, the 10-minute film that Hirsi Ali made with director Theo van Gogh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGtQvGGY4S4

This is the film that cost Theo van Gogh his life, the movie that caused an Islamic fundamentalist to murder him while he rode his bicycle down the street. He will be missed. At least the world has someone as brave as Ayaan Hirsi Ali to continue the fight for free speech and women's liberation worldwide!