Ayaan Hirsi Ali - Hero of Heresy

Ayaan Hirsi Ali - Hero of Heresy

Think Inc. Present: Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Sunday April 9, Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland
Tickets available 12pm Friday February 3 from Ticketmaster

An outspoken heretic, infidel and global nomad, Ayaan Hirsi Ali continues her critique on Islamic extremism and the liberal governments that allow it.

In April 2017, women’s rights activist, champion of free speech and best-selling author Ayaan Hirsi Ali will make her first appearance in New Zealand to discuss the current world political climate, Islam, and a plethora of other vital topics. As Islam and religion prove to be more important a topic than ever before in 2017, Hirsi Ali will bring her controversial views to New Zealand.

Infidel. Heretic. Apostate. Ayaan Hirsi Ali has courted controversy over her years in the public eye, earning widespread criticism amongst the liberal left and death threats from the religious right. April will see her come in Auckland to add her voice to the heated debate about Islam’s place in a modern liberal democracy. The event will consist of a lecture from Ayaan Hirsi Ali, followed by a discussion with the event host, and conclude with an audience question and answer session.

Born in Somalia to a devout Muslim family, Hirsi Ali underwent female genital mutilation as a child and escaped an arranged marriage in 1992 by seeking political asylum in the Netherlands. Leaving her religion behind, she famously collaborated with director Theo van Gogh to produce Submission, a short film that ultimately led to van Gogh’s assassination and the subsequent call for her own.

Moving to the USA in 2006, Hirsi Ali is now an American citizen and has since founded the AHA Foundation in defence of women’s rights, and served as a fellow with the American Enterprise Institute think tank. Hirsi Ali has been previously named as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, and is a New York Times number one bestselling author.

Hirsi Ali remains a vocal critic of Islam, in particular, Sharia’s treatment of women and sexual minorities, the proliferation of genital mutilation, honour killings, forced marriages and social isolation. Critics have accused her of anti-Muslim hate speech, decrying her portrayal of the religion as a “nihilistic cult of death” and “the new fascism” in which violence is inherent. Other commentators like the late Christopher Hitchens praised her intellectual prowess, while novelist Roger L. Simon deemed her a “modern Joan of Arc”.

Following on from the release of her 2015 book ‘Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now’, April will see Ayaan Hirsi Ali in New Zealand for the first time and Think Inc. invite you to step inside the controversy with ‘Hero of Heresy’.

Think Inc. Present: Ayaan Hirsi Ali – ‘Hero of Heresy’
Sunday April 9, Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland

Doors 6:30pm / Show: 7.30pm / Ends 9pm

Tickets available 12pm Friday February 3 from Ticketmaster
For more info, head to Think Inc.

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