Infidel

This is a true story about exceptional strength and courage, perseverance and determination. Ayaan, born in Somalia, into a male dominated Muslim culture that subjugates women and demands submission to Allah (the word Islam means "submission to God") is driven to find answers in a faith that only raises more questions. Refusing to blindly follow teachings that increasingly make her uneasy; she furtively begins her dangerous journey towards equality and freedom to a place that exudes freedom: Holland.
While her story evokes feelings of exuberance and hope it also elicits certain abjectness. For every Ayaan there are thousands of others who will never reach the point of enlightenment she achieved; many will never know it even exists, others still will try and destroy it through sheer ignorance.
A powerful story and a great learning experience .

An astonishing and captivating book, Ayaan Hirsi Ali writes her life story in extremely clear language and a matter of fact tone. Ali's book is a contrast between her rigid and religious upbringing in her North African and Middle Eastern homes, and her later emigration to Europe and the US. Unlike most biographies, though, it is Ali's upbringing rather than her later accomplishments (which are considerable) that is most compelling - and likely to most of us in the West, startling.

"People in the West … have learned not to examine the religions or cultures of minorities too critically, for fear of being called racist," writes Ali in the final pages of her book, and it is for this reason that the book is such a page-turner and so important. While we may have caught glimpses into life and culture in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Saudi Arabia through the mirky mirrors of op-ed pieces or articles, Ali both provides a large, clear window and through the retelling of her story acts as our guide.

The culture is so foreign, with just a few geographic names and historical events recognizable, that it has a ring of science fiction. (Words such as Osman, Darod, jilbab, ma'alim are common). The events are very human and very alarming, though, and it is Ali's lack of anger, regret or moralizing that allows - compels - readers to read on.

As the narrative progresses, it becomes clear that Ali is an exceptional girl and woman, and it is very clear that her departure from her culture is also an exception. In her culture, her upbringing and life are the rule, and there is no choice for almost any female in a similar circumstance. Ali's adult life in the West is a stark contrast, but through her fresh eyes she provides interesting insights that make us question our own belief systems and societal structure. She notes the parallels between the clan cultures of her youth and the cliques of her Dutch university, and later the relative morals her Dutch parliament colleagues as they wrestle with actions (specifically Ali's expulsion from the country) necessary to maintain power. Earlier, Ali had noted the life and death trade-offs in refugee camps, and that morals were irrelevant when basic needs couldn't be met.

Many autobiographies are written to celebrate, frame or even justify successes or actions later in the author's life. Ali's is riveting and thought provoking from start to finish, and is recommended reading for all. An exceptional and important work.

This women's story is awe inspiring. Born in Somalia into a Muslim culture, she suffered untold indignities and yet writes in a fact based manner, still able to find compassion and sometimes love for those that were her oppressers. She escapes this culture and a forced marriage by claiming refugee status in Holland. From there you see this amazing women become more self-aware and self-cofident as she learns the language, goes on to recieve a masters in political science and eventually become a MP in the holland parliament. Her outspokeness regarding the debasement of women in the Muslim culture earns her death threats, and after a friend and colleague is assasinated for a short film they did together she is forced into hiding. I think this book is a must read.

I quite liked this book. I had heard quite a few negative things about this book so wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it or not. Yes, she didn't exactly tell the truth about her name and reason for needing to be a refugee, but can you imagine being from a country that has a civil war going on and to be that different mind frame. I do find it sad that she grew up to have such strong religious beliefs and eventually did a 180 degree turn, turning away from religion. It makes me wonder how strong her belief was in Allah to begin with. I'd definitely read this again and recommend it.

I think my husband loved this more than me, he just can't stop talking about it. His blood really boiled when he read what girls go through.

It's great to see how someone with such a childhood could become so important. Makes me realize that I had it pretty darn good and shouldn't complain.

I'll admit the latter portion of the book lost a bit of my interest. Probably because I saw how, in my opinion, people were manipulating her to suit their agendas.... not hers.

I would suggest this to people without question. Gets people talking and can start a lively debate.

Infidel is at face value an autobiography of Ayaan Hirisi Ali's life, and an amazing life it has been. Born in Somalia, raised in 4 other nations in Africa and the middle east, managing to escape an arranged marriage to the Netherlands to go on to become a member of parliament. Ayaan is an inspiration to anyone. Aside from her amazing personal struggles are her political struggles. Ayaans ultimate rejection of Islam is one of the fundamental tenants of the book. She's seen it in its most fundamental, and she wore the Burka. After seeing what happens to Muslim women in not just the developing world, but in the Netherlands itself she goes on to bring to light the oppression building inside. Women are her struggle, and she risked her own life coming out to stand up against the barbaric practices of Muslim immigrants in her new home.

This book i believe is one of the most important of our time. Its a story of hope, but its also a warning. While religious freedom remains paramount in the developed world, we must realize that the religion in the west is much less oppressive and violent then that in the middle east, and we must not allow those people to influence our laws in a negative way or to let them simply sit under the radar because "its their religion" or for fear of being called a racist. The law and society that men have died for will slowly be corroded by political correctness if we are not brave enough to speak out against it.

Ayaan writes of her upbringing which is an eye opener for us foreigners. I prefered the first half of the book as it seemed written with emotion whereas the last part of the book is about the politics and her relations later in her life.

Amazing book! The author's courage is remarkable. Starting from her defiance against her father to her ambition to better her life in Holland, the author is admirable. I highly recommend this book.

This book writes about standing up to what you believe despite the consequences. It will be offensive to Muslim hard core believers, but to everyone else, I think there are many lessons to be learned. Well written and hard to put down.

I love reading books that "teach" me something...that make me analyse. "Infidel" did just that. The biggest myth dispelled for me was the belief that Islam = Peace. Ayaan reveals that the teachings of the Quran can imprison and even cripple its believers. She highlights the necessity of choice and that "to believe" should be enlightening, not repressive.

I couldn't put this book down! Her story is so courageous, her strength unreal!

It has just been brought to my attention that parts of the below review *may* lead others to think I believe the brutal practice of female circumcision is one that is faithfully adhered to by the majority of Muslims worldwide. Please let me assure you that I do NOT believe that to be the case, and nor do I believe the many other abuses of basic civil rights as described by this author, are freely subscribed to and practiced by, the majority of Muslims everywhere on the globe.

I am commenting ONLY on the content of her book, her experiences and a bit of my own supplemental research about certain items that truly upset me when reading this memoir. And of course my feelings about the author's experiences and the horrors described, also played a role when I wrote the review.

Any review I write, regardless of genre or current social appeal, is prepared using the same criteria as stated above. No one has to agree with me, just to respect that this and all my reviews are my thoughts, comments, reactions and feelings to whatever I've read that motivated me enough to write a review!

***Warning - Post Contains Some Graphic Material***

Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsh-Ali

Genre: Autobiogaphy
Length: 350 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-8986-9
ISBN-10: 0-7432-8968-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-8969-6
ISBN-10: 0-7432-8969-2

I knew of Taliban, their oppression and terror, from articles and news clips I'd seen a decade or more before 9/11 happened. While already shocked and sad that we in the free world were still allowing this kind of thing to happen, I have to say that this book really brought the horror of it all slamming home for me!

Born of my (X) generation, Hirsh Ali's life seems, to me, to have been something from a history book - a cross between medieval ignorant savagery, political strife and new-age warfare.

Though I knew of female circumcision, as it is practiced in such places and religions, I didn't realize how truly brutal the horrific process is. Generally performed by a male stranger with scissors or a knife, and zero medical training - with little children being held down in unsanitary public areas - be it the kitchen table to large rock outside - it is more often than not the child's own FEMALE family members initiating the process and holding them down. Can you imagine, even a little, being a small, terrified little girl being held down by loved ones as you scream in agony and terror? Scarred maimed, forever deprived of a normal sex life. (And yes, they even do it to their little boys, though they are not usually left nearly as physically scarred or sexually dysfunctional.)

These girls, after their clitoris and labia are literally hacked off, are sewn shut, with only a tiny hole left to urinate, then have their legs tied together for several days to ensure a thick layer of scar tissue grows. No painkillers or sedatives of any kind are used and the occasion is often treated as a celebration with many witnesses gathered to behold the joyous event. Years later, a huge amount of force, sometimes even being cut again, is required to pierce the tissue for intercourse. The theory behind all this being that the scar tissue will act as flesh chastity belt, keeping girls "pure" as ordered by Allah according the the Quran - thus ensuring virginity for their future husbands to enjoy. This procedure, done under such conditions as it usually is, can, and frequently does, result in death.

Yet, despite the horror of her circumcision and a lifetime of beatings, verbal abuse, and on the whole, nothing we in the West would ever recognize as a normal childhood, Hirsh Ali never loses her sense of humanity, love or compassion. After fleeing an arranged marriage to a complete stranger (who is also a distant relative), she fled to Holland. Despite her somewhat sketchy education, she earned a college degree in political science, and went on to became an MP in Holland's parliamentary legislature. Using this forum, Hirsh Ali became a vocal advocate for the rights of Muslim women and the reform of Islam. This has made her the target of reactionary Islamists and other politicians, even to point of threatening her life - and succeeding in the killing of her partner & friend in the making of her film Submission - and yet they were still unable to silence this remarkable women.

Effectively bullied out of Holland - once again the victim becomes the target - Ali now lives in the United States and works hard at her message of reform and equality in the Muslim world, and also for the rest of humanity.

Has this changed my view of Islam? YES! And sadly, not for the better.

Below are two links you might find of interest if Hirsh Ali's story has caught your ear:

American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy in Washington, D.C. - a think tank she joined after leaving Holland - www.aei.org

A version Theo van Gogh (deceased) and Hirsh Ali's film, Submission, Part One - www.youtube.com

I was captivated from the beginning. Her recollection of what happened is quite vivid. It gives you insight into a different religion and culture.

A great insight into a whole different world of people who know nothing about the outside world other than what they are taught and led to believe. One can understand why oppressed people are what they are taught. We can be so thankful to live in a country that gives its people the right to speak, teach and learn without fear.

This woman should be heard by all. Her story is horrifying, compelling, sad and triumphant. I admire Ms. Ali's courage tremendously. I have never thought of religion or Islam her way. I always thought the religion was a non topic. How great of someone to speak up and discuss the taboo topic. Maybe it is time to look at all religions soberly and honestly. Great book, a must read for all.

This book affected me more than any book I have read in many years! Ayaan is one of the bravest persons in the world for revealing the true story of the Muslim religion. She risked her life to tell the us about one of the most dangerous situations the people of the world are facing in the 21st century! This religion must be stopped before it overtakes the western world as it has the middle east, far east and Africa to name a few. I suggest this book should be mandantory reading in every high school in the western world!

Loved the book. Ayaan shows great courage speaking out against the law and what she believes to be right. This book ranks 2nd in my list of favourite all time autobiographies. If you enjoyed this book, you'll probably enjoy Left to Tell and A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.

Wow. I was absolutely blown away by this book. I have a deep respect for Ayaan's courage to speak truthfully about important issues - issues that ultimately apply to the world as a whole.

The importance of questioning rather than blindly following. The importance of assimilation rather than segregation of different cultures. The importance of the separation of church and state. These are just a few of the compelling messages that Ayaan sends.

The one thing that bothered me (and ultimately convinced me to give the book a slightly lower rating than I would have otherwise), was the overly-positive portrayal Christianity. I must assume that Ayaan has never read through the Bible, which does *not* send an overall message of tolerance and love. Nor has she been exposed to the indoctrination of children with fundamentalist parents of the Christian faith. Although I concede that most Christians within the west have not experienced the atrocities that many Muslims have, I do not feel that Christianity is quite as harmless as the author seems to believe.

That being said, Ayaan seeks to raise awareness of the cruelties that many Muslims are forced to endure, all in the name of Allah. In that she undoubtedly succeeds.

Shocking. Heartbreaking. Inspirational. Infidel is a book I would encourage everyone to read.

A strong woman, an eye opener for many. The integration of immigrants has been an issue in Europe for many years. Germany has an official Muslim holiday. This is done to indicate the respect that there is for the different culture and religion. Holland operates with the same ideas. Integrate and respecting the original culture, however this leads to sub-cultures and in the case of the Muslim comunities to the old time religiouse practices in part. In no way does Ayaan say that Islam is bad but it is time that Muslims should realize that Islam needs an overhaul in some areas. The treatment of women is questionable and has been for decades now.

To have lived through the degrading of females, the struggles of family life and coming to terms with her religion, and still being able to write them in this book - truly shows her strength. Well written, though some sections are hard to read without seeing visions of exactly what horrors she lived through...