End Violence Against Women and Girls in the US Demand a National Action Plan to Fight Honor Violence
My name is Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I am an American citizen, a women’s rights advocate and an author. Before all that, though, I was raised in a culture of honor and shame: a culture in which it is honorable to sell your underage daughter as a bride to an older man, a culture in which it is a shame for a girl to date or even wear make-up.
To some, I am known as an “Infidel” and “Heretic,” in part because I stand against traditional practices that have been used to justify the abuse and subjugation of women. Collectively, these dangerous practices are known as honor violence. I myself was a victim of honor violence. At the age of five, my genitals were cut away with a razor blade and stitched shut to ensure my “purity” until my wedding night. In my early twenties, my father forced me into an unwanted marriage. To escape the marriage and inevitable retribution from my family, I fled to Holland and went into hiding. I survived, but many girls who face honor violence do not.
We at the AHA Foundation are determined to end honor violence in the United States and we need your help. Please stand with us. Together we can stop this practice and save thousands of girls in the US from abuse and - for some - even death.
Honor violence is an often-overlooked form of abuse that shames, hurts and kills thousands of women and girls in the US each year and puts millions more at risk. It is typically seen in the form of physical or emotional abuse, sexual assault, rape, or kidnapping, but it also includes forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). Honor violence is condoned and perpetrated by the victim’s family and community. In extreme cases, it can lead to death.
Many people assume honor violence happens only in foreign countries, far away from our way of life. The fact is: honor violence is a silent epidemic in the United States, with large communities here who uphold the culture of honor and shame. And it is on the rise. I know because, from across our country, hundreds of frightened women and girls have reached out to the AHA Foundation, seeking help to escape dangerous situations. I know because the least fortunate victims end up in the headlines, murdered in honor killings. For each girl whose name appears in headlines, and for each girl who asks for help, there are countless more in the shadows, suffering in silence and afraid to seek help.
On behalf of the girls around the US who suffer abuse at the hands of those who should most seek to protect them – their fathers, mothers, uncles, grandparents, sisters, and brothers – I am taking this fight to Capitol Hill. I am asking President Trump to put in place a comprehensive, strategic action plan to address honor violence in the US. I am asking you to join me in this fight. We will not look away and we will not stop until all our girls are safe and protected.
Stand with me and the AHA Foundation today in calling for a national action plan to end honor violence in the United States. Add your voice to mine as I travel to the Hill this spring. Please sign my petition now.
Letter to the President of the United States
Dear President Trump,
Honor violence is an often-overlooked form of abuse that shames, hurts and kills thousands of women and girls in the US each year and puts millions more at risk. It is typically seen in the form of physical or emotional abuse, sexual assault, rape or kidnapping, but it also includes forced marriage and female genital mutilation. In the most extreme cases, honor violence can lead to murder.
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The Importance of the Violence Against Women Act
Published January 4, 2019
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was originally enacted in 1994 as a much needed response to domestic and sexual violence trending nationwide. VAWA was the first piece of federal legislation that addressed violence against women specifically by instituting “enhanced sentencing of repeat federal sex offenders; mandated restitution to victims of specified federal sex offenses; and authorized grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement entities to investigate and prosecute violent crimes against women.”1 Since then, VAWA has gone through several iterations as it has been re-authorized in 2000, 2005, 2013, and most recently an extension was filed through December 21, 2018; but the vote has since been stalled in the House and has since expired amid the government shutdown.
“’Don’t let this go unnoticed: the Violence Against Women Act, which helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, expired with the government shutdown,’ Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) tweeted on Sunday [December 23], adding, ‘It’s deeply concerning.’ Actor and Me Too activist Alyssa Milano added her disappointment, tweeting: ‘What kind of country allows its Violence Against Women Act to expire?’”2
Prior to this landmark legislation’s passage in 1994, private resources were used to create makeshift shelters. It wasn’t until the passage of VAWA that the federal government took up a role in leadership and funding toward addressing domestic violence. We know now what they didn’t then: 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the United States have been victims of domestic violence in their lifetimes.
Since VAWA’s implementation, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) has awarded $7 billion to government agencies, local nonprofit organizations, and universities to address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Importantly, VAWA “made a big difference by directing substantial new resources to local domestic violence programs. Also, VAWA funded communities to develop coordinated responses. It encouraged essential collaborations between law enforcement, community based services, child welfare, and other key players in the community.”3
Among many other protections, the current bill “increases funding for sexual assault centers and expands the law related to removing guns from convicted abusers. We should all implore Congress to act on the reauthorization of VAWA. As it becomes clearer that, according to a new study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the least safe place for women globally is in the home, it is essential that our politicians take seriously the issues of domestic and sexual violence and not let political division disrupt these much-needed services.”4
Just yesterday, the official swearing-in ceremony of the 116th Congress ushered in the most diverse Congress the United States has seen, including several firsts — the youngest Congresswoman, the first two Muslim women, and the first two Native American women serving in the House of Representatives. It is with this new wave of representation that we can have hope that our government will work toward the reauthorization of VAWA in the new year.
This is a fight not only in the US but also all over the world. I think women have to be protect all by themselves, people around cannot help them in every situation. street view
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I agree with this post.
I am wondering WHY this is even happening here in The United States of America.
The Mosques here in The United States need to be shut down. They are wolves in sheep clothing.
Worse, it is an ideology, under the guise of “Religion”.
And so many people are being hood winked into a lie.
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I have joined your cause because it is closer to my heart than any other around. You can thank Linda Sarsour for being so vile in her tweets about you ( and sharia in general), that I started to wake up and pay attention. I am not a joiner of much, but i can no longer tolerate hatred against women, or any other groups- so it’s time this American grandmother of two and mother of five get off her butt and start moving to help others. Thank you for being brace enough to speak about your experiences and giving women and girls hope- that is the whole purpose of our being alive- to help each other
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Thank you for your tireless campaign to rid this world of this barbaric practice. we must all join in and make our government officials to put a end to this. This not a religious custom this is “control” and domination of females. Where are all the so called feminists for this atrocity. Crickets. Stand up for these young girls. God bless you
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Trump only responds to photos, and one-liners. Send him photos that he can call “horrible,” and, perhaps the almighty tweeter will act.
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[…] online petition urging the U.S. government to put together a national action plan to end honor violence in the […]
Who in Seattle is involved in these matters? I had a resolution passed up to the state level within the Democratic Party which resolved that apostasy is to be covered by hate crime legislation and those that persecute apostates would be treated to the extra severity of punishment that hate crime legislation imposes.. Of course, although there are non Islamic cults that persecute apostates, everyone knows which religion is my main focus because of its disproportionate involvement..If I had supporters I might actually be able to get it passed by the Washington State legislature, There is also a bill against fgm in that legislature that doesn’t seem to go anywhere.
[…] Petition […]
Thank you for you appearance on Foxnews! I cannot believe the tweet from Linda Sarsour! Thank you for fighting!
it’s horrible how we still treat humain being like this. And the most terrifying is that we are seeing violence, terrorism, killing innocent every day. That’s why we need more people like this women to fight.
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ISIS must be exterminated. The Yezidi people must be saved and all forms of misogyny must be outlawed. The UN and OIC are hypocrites and the chief funders of genocide, rape and misogyny. This cannot be done through the UN. Ayaan has a very hard, nearly impossible task, but her approach is the correct one because those who share her paradigms and beliefs will contribute. Instead of focusing on the 2.5 million massacred in Sudan and the 800,000 slaughtered in Rwanda, the UN prefers cocktail parties and whining like infants about Israel, whose Muslim population is the most educated in the Middle-East. It is very simple, Islam is a nihilistic cult of death which praises violence against kafir (non-Muslims) and celebrates defilement of girls and adult women because, in fact, Muslim men are afraid of women and have low self-esteem. Muslim men believe raping women makes them mature. Islam is a twisted, pathologically insane cult, and as long as there are 2 billion followers and their duped acolytes in the West, women (and men) will suffer.
Dear Ayaan,
Three months ago in Seattle Washington, wearing a tight fitting silk sweater (covered down to my wrists and up to my neckline) and loose chinos (100% covered from my waist to my ankles), I was called a “whore” by an immigrant Somali man while simply walking by in midday Chinatown while on my lunch break from my job in human services. Then, as he began criticizing my clothing and another Somali man came to my defense because I had helped him find a job. I was scared of him and glad that the other gentleman stopped his friend; however, it is more frightening that everybody seems to respect this religion and it is NOT respectable. Of course I had the strong curiosity that if I had not helped him find a job, that he also may have joined in insulting me for walking by them but cannot be sure.
My preference would be to get rid of all mythology. However, many believe that is not really feasible. Would mass t-shirts worn by all showing the face of the so-called prophet help or hurt? Because you are a woman and former follower of Islam, you may be the only person who has credibility. American women better wake up and help protect our refugee women or the politics of Islam will set us all back centuries.
How does a liberal white American woman convince p.c. liberals to fight FOR the rights of Muslim woman and girls in America instead of welcoming Islam men to continue this brutality on our soil? How do we prevent ALL sharia law in America? You are preaching to the choir (sorry about that).
~Sleepless in Seattle
Ayaan, you seem to be the only voice of reason on such matters. Thank you for your courage.
To me Islam is both a religion and a culture neither of which will assimilate peacefully. Law enforcement has their hands tied in fighting these crimes as what they are thus far as the family members of the victims nor their communities will cooperate or help. Also, law enforcement always faces being called religiously and culturally insensitive or out right racist. When political correctness prevents our law enforcement from doing their job and keeping us safe, it is a sad day indeed! I applaud Ayaan and all in her organization for bringing this all to the forefront. There is, however, much to do and far to go. Most Americans still do not know about this happening here in our own country and many of those who are aware, choose not to believe it. It is real, it is happening, and it is frightening. It does not belong in any culture or religion anywhere in the world.
I worked for six years in Pakistan, 1968-1974, responsible for the development, construction and operation of the largest Fertilizer plant in the world, located at Chichoki Mallian. I was the Managing Director of Dawood Hercules Limited. Now, 45 years later, I have thought of a way to revise Sharia, and make it acceptable into the civilized world. It involves the higher education and involvement of Muslim Women into the decision making process – at all levels. I have written a strategy explaining my thoughts, and ask for help in getting such a strategy into the world’s attention. In 1968 I recommended to Ayyub Khan that Girls should get more than 4th grade educations. As a result, and with the help of MM Ahmad, then Finance Minister, they started doing that. I have been told that over 600 such schools have been built or set upsince, and my contacts in Pakistan have assured me that the influence of educated women on the decision making process has been amazing. I contended to President Khan that Pakistan would never escape third world identity until it learned to use ALL of it’s brain power; not just the Male half. These are powerful ideas, and now, at 86 years old, I want to make them publicized. Can you help me, or at least steer me in the right direction? Thank you. Clark T Kingery
[…] Petition […]
Ayaan, I am so glad you are going to Washington to take this petition to President Obama before he leaves office. Congratulation, you
are my hero – God bless you. I can not imagine the pain a little 5 year old girl goes through, having her genitals cut with a razor – I am
glad you didn’t get infected with such n unclean thing as a razor – it is a horrible and unthinkable thing to do to a child. It is child abuse
at the lowest level. How dare anybody do this to a helpless child – it is an utmost invasion of privacy for any young girl.
You are the most courageous person in our country. Thank you so much for speaking your truth. I encourage everyone to read your books which are an eye opener for most of us in the western world.
Thank you!
The ‘westernized man’ observes morality in terms of religion and faith; then makes it on time to a golf game. The women in harsh Islamic states who have no voice observe the Dogma fed to them with fear in their eyes and so deep that no westerner who has not lived it would ever get it. Let us get rid of 7th century dogma and talk about evening a playing field for all men and women everywhere. Ayaan and this movement is what we all need so bad.
Ayaan is a true and noble hero. Every woman, every decent freedom loving person, must act to save the girls and women of today and tomorrow. We all have no future until change happens.
To: David R.W. Wadsworth
Ayaan, uses the word “culture” not “Islam” (in the video above) so I’m not sure what it matters (in this context) whether the Quran or a particular Hadith includes support for violence against women. I’m not saying that Islam does or does not support violence against women, since in this context it doesn’t seem to matter. AHA is simply trying to stop violence against women.
In which Hadith does Muhammad advocate 1) violance against women, 2) killing pf Christians & Jews who do not accept Islam, the Qur’an and Muhammad
Girls, Teens, and Women need to be protected from FGM, Child brides, honor killings, and the outrageous and inhumane treatment that this culture inflicts upon itself. Spread the word ~ and sign the Petition ~ then Spread the Word again ~ and get another signature…..
Rev. Margaret Aranda, MD, Ph.D.
http://www.drmargaretaranda.blogspot.com
Ayaan, I have been reading your books and watching you on youtube since 2011. I trust you. Please continue to provide your guidance, advice, and activism on many issues, including how to protect the United States from terrorist attacks, how to humanely deal with oppressed refugees/Syrians, how to prevent people who were born in the United States from committing violent terrorist acts, and honor violence on United States soil. Thank you for the contributions you have made to these complicated, and sometimes hidden-in-plain-sight issues.
[…] Petition […]
I have listened to your books and can feel your passion for the pursuit of truth. Thank you for enlightening us and there by protecting us from a less than peaceful Islamic culture. I will spread the truth you have given me to all I know.
I have learned that honor killings, FGM (female genital mutilation), and forced marriages is becoming a growing concern in the United States for which we need to put a stop to. The violence against women in the name of family honor needs to stop. I am going to commit to helping the aha foundation.
I was very impressed too by your presentation on CNN last night. I signed your petition and shared your site on my FB page.
Thank you for your courage!
I saw you on CNN last night and was impressed by your matter of fact honesty. Thank you for your determination and care to help others.
So very impressed by your comments on CNN tonight re reactions to terrorists in San Bernadino. Was not aware of your work prior to going to this website. You have my utmost admiration and support.