A Is For Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Hello and welcome to my inaugural post for the big 2012 A to Z Challenge. When I thought about what my theme would be, I decided that being an ardent feminist I would bring to light strong women, women who changed history, women who are making their mark on this planet. I'm also including some Fun Factoids about the accomplishments of women.

My entry for A is a whole bundle of courage and controversy. Feminist, activist, politician and writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born in Somalia to a prominent political family. She is the creator of the AHA Foundation, a non profit organization for the defense of Muslim women's rights. The goal of the organization is to fight crimes against women such as forced marriages, honor killings and female genital mutilation. Ayaan was herself, a victim of this horrific tradition at age five. Her grandmother had the procedure performed on her in defiance of Ali's father, who had been jailed at the time for his activism. Ali's AHA Foundation also focuses on education and fighting Sharia Law.

 In 2002, while living in the Netherlands, she became an avowed atheist and began to write articles criticizing Islam. She also started appearing on television and as a regular speaker at public debate forums. Her first book, The Son Factory, was published in November of that year. Soon after she started receiving death threats. She did not let the threats stop her work and continued her activism and writing. Ali wrote the script and did the voice-over for Theo Van Gogh's film Submission, the project for which the director was murdered.

Despite the almost constant threats to her life, Ayaan continues her fight. In 2005 Time Magazine named her one of their 100 Most Influential People. Her sheer determination to carry on her work is quite simply astounding.

Fun Female Factoid

Appreciate those windshield wipers on your car in a downpour? Thank Mary Anderson who invented a single arm rubber blade design in 1903.

Thanks for visiting, I appreciate it very much. To see more exciting entries on this wonderful fest, please click here.