Ayaan Hirsi Ali Tackles Today’s Burning Issues: Her Writing, Podcasts, and Media Appearances Defending Western Freedoms and Ideals
“The right to think, to speak, and to write in freedom and without fear is ultimately a more sacred thing than any religion.”
– Ayaan Hirsi Ali, in Heretic (2015)
Our founder, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, has been at the forefront of the public debate over freedom of speech and other Western freedoms and ideals. Here is a selection, from 2021 to the present, of some of her articles, podcasts, and other media appearances where she tackles the most pressing issues of the day.
Free speech is under threat, says Ayaan Hirsi Ali – 20th Reichmuth & Co Lecture at the University of Lucerne
I once wanted to burn ‘The Satanic Verses.’ Now I weep for Salman Rushdie. – The Washington Post
One of Ayaan’s two published responses in the wake of the attack on Salman Rushdie on August 12, 2022. Read it here.
The infidels will not be silenced – UnHerd
One of Ayaan’s two published responses in the wake of the attack on Salman Rushdie on August 12, 2022. Read it here.
America’s Crisis of Self-Doubt – National Review
Ayaan was one of various writers and scholars who signed a statement in National Review championing a more nuanced and positive view of America’s achievements as a great liberal nation. The full statement can be accessed here.
The desperation of Biden’s Disinformation Board – Ayaan Hirsi Ali in UnHerd
Ayaan wrote about the dangers of government overreach on the information we view, arguing that this presents a danger to free speech and free debate. The full article can be accessed here.
Jason Hill on Race in America – The Ayaan Hirsi Ali Podcast
On her podcast, Ayaan interviewed Professor Jason Hill about race in America, free speech, immigration, and the power of individual agency. The full conversation can be accessed here.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali at the Munk Dialogues
Ayaan appeared at the prestigious Munk Dialogues to discuss how reason has come under attack in the West. The event recording can be accessed here.
How Vladimir Putin weaponises refugees – UnHerd
In UnHerd, Ayaan threw light on an under-discussed aspect of the war in Ukraine: Putin’s use of refugees as a tool of war. The full article can be accessed here.
Tribalism has come to the West – UnHerd Best of 2021
Ayaan’s article on the decline of civilized debate and tolerance in the West was listed by UnHerd as one of its best of 2021. The full article can be accessed here.
Progressives are a gift to Islamism – UnHerd
In UnHerd, Ayaan wrote about how extreme progressive ideology undermines Western freedoms and ideals. The full article can be accessed here.
Lawrence Krauss on The New Religion – The Ayaan Hirsi Ali Podcast
On her podcast, Ayaan interviewed physicist and author Lawrence Krauss on the corruption of academia by extreme ideology. The full conversation can be accessed here.
What Radical Islam and the Woke Have In Common – PragerU
For PragerU, Ayaan showed how two seemingly different threats to Western ideals are in fact very similar. The full video can be accessed here.
Ayaan Discusses Afghanistan and More – The Megyn Kelly Show
Ayaan discussed the tragedy of Afghanistan on The Megyn Kelly Show. The full video can be accessed here.
Biden’s most heartless betrayal – Ayaan Hirsi Ali in UnHerd
Ayaan lamented the betrayal of Afghan women in an article for UnHerd. The full article can be accessed here.
Counterweight Connects with Ayaan Hirsi Ali – Counterweight Media
Ayaan spoke with Helen Pluckrose of Counterweight about the threat posed by dangerous ideologies. The full video can be accessed here.
CLICK HERE FOR SOME OF AYAAN’S PREVIOUS MEDIA APPEARANCES DEFENDING FREE SPEECH
At the AHA Foundation – Founded by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, where advocacy for freedom and security is paramount, tools like rabby are gaining attention for supporting safe and transparent digital transactions in the U.S.