C L O S E R – Hirsi Ali and the Shortcut to the US

Posted on May 16th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News, Public Islam.

C L O S E R

I came to Holland in the summer of 1992 because I wanted to be able to determine my own future. I didn’t want to be forced into a destiny that other people had chosen for me, so I opted for the protection of the rule of law. Here in Holland, I found freedom and opportunities, and I took those opportunities to speak out against religious terror.

In January 2003, at the invitation of the VVD party, I became a member of parliament. I accepted the VVD’s invitation on the condition that I would be the party’s spokesman for the emancipation of women and the integration of immigrants.
What exactly did I want to achieve?
First of all I wanted to put the oppression of immigrant women — especially Muslim women – squarely on the Dutch political agenda. Second, I wanted Holland to pay attention to the specific cultural and religious issues that were holding back many ethnic minorities, instead of always taking a one-sided approach that focused only on their socio-economic circumstances. Lastly, I wanted politicians to grasp the fact that major aspects of Islamic doctrine and tradition, as practiced today, are incompatible with the open society.
That transition from becoming a member of a clan to becoming a citizen in an open society is what public service has come to mean for me. Only clear thinking and strong action can lead to real change, and free many people within our society from the mental cage of submission. The idea that I can contribute to their freedom, whether in the Netherlands or in another country, gives me deep satisfaction.
Ladies and Gentlemen, as of today, I resign from Parliament. I regret that I will be leaving the Netherlands, the country which has given me so many opportunities and enriched my life, but I am glad that I will be able to continue my work. I will go on.

The above quote is from Hirsi Ali’s public statement today. Yes, she is leaving parliament and going to the US. For a nice report on today’s events, see the facts here. This is certainly not a Dutch event only. Several non-Dutch blogs are mentioning the affair, and not all very well informed. For example Melanie Phillips states:

Yet instead of being cherished as a national heroine, she is being broken and bullied out of the country by an unholy alliance of venomous leftists, spineless public servants — including those of a highly conservative disposition — and radical Islamists, all giving a victory to the forces of evil.

A shocked friend of Ms Hirsi Ali says that the mood in the Netherlands today reflects a thirst for a public hanging. But this public anger is being funnelled not at the clerical fascism that has caused Dutch public figures to be guarded day and night against the threat of murder, but at one of those very figures. Thus the victim of violence is turned into its cause, and her institutionalised lynching will purge the terror from the people.

There is no proof of such a conspiracy and certainly not one including radical islamists. Dutch Muslim umbrella organizations do have stated that they are not sad that she is leaving, but they are certainly not radical islamists. Also there is certainly not a blood thirsty crowd that wants her out. Several Dutch blogs as the Ayaanhirsiali.web-log.nl and Frontaalnaakt.nl and Geenstijl.nl are supporting her. Many critics of her I have spoken to, even support her in this case. Of course there are also people who remain critical and are glad to see her leave. Her supporters are certainly more outspoken, also the ones abroad.

Important to note by the way, if Hirsi Ali looses her Dutch nationality, that does not mean she has to leave the country because of that: she is still a refugee and therefore she could stay.

When I got home from work this evening, I tried to get hold of NRC Handelsblad; a Dutch evening daily. It was sold out. Everywhere. This certainly is an event on the WWW. Several other blogs are also engaging with this issue, some with very short, but interesting, comments such as ‘Aqoul

A very queer bit of reporting on Somali-Dutch MP and possible immigration services deceiver Ayaan Hirsi Ali aka Ayaan Hirsi Magan, who appears to have not been quite in the situ she claimed re forced marriage when she won Dutch citizenship. The article is perhaps a lesson in the madness that is immigration laws and debates at present across the Developed-Developing world divide. It may, if the facts are right, also be a somewhat sad lesson in media hype as well.

And others just referring to other sources such as Sandmonkey, others pointing to the position of her party (VVD) that has a very firm standpoint on migration (…and lying), but not everyone in that party is very glad with that view in this case, others stating that she has some strange supporters. Some people think it might backfire to Dutch minister Verdonk.
During the debate in parliament it has become clear that there is room for reconsidering the withdrawal of Hirsi Ali’s Dutch nationality or even a new request for naturalization with a shorter procedure. So there is room for negotations and solutions.

If you want to read Hirsi Ali’s complete statement: (more…)

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