The XX Factor: What women really think.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali: How To Help

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a column about the Dutch-Somali politician and writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali, best known for her outspoken defense of the rights of Muslim women. Among other things, I noted that the Dutch parliament was about to vote on whether to extend a promise some of its members made in 2002: to pay the bills for Hirsi Ali's personal security, which are hefty. (To repeat: In 2004, Theo Van Gogh, co-director of a film she and he made about women in Islam—titled Submission—was murdered by a fanatic. The murderer pinned a death threat to Van Gogh's chest, claiming Hirsi Ali would be the next victim. After being in hiding for some time, Hirsi Ali eventually moved to the United States, since Holland had become a far too dangerous place for her to live. Nevertheless, she remains a Dutch citizen, endangered by the peculiarites of the Dutch political situation, largely threatened by fanatics resident in Holland.)

In response to this piece of writing, I received an astonishing quantity of email, mostly from Holland. Some claimed that Hirsi Ali is rich, now that she's written a best-selling memoir, and can pay for her own security (not true); some said they felt embarrassed that their government was reneging on its promise; some complained about my use of the word "Holland" to describe a country called "the Netherlands" (to which the only answer is that we don't complain when the French call our country "Les Etats-Unis"); some wanted to know what they could do to help. None of it mattered much, because the Dutch parliament voted "No," and now Hirsi Ali, possibly the greatest women's rights activist of our generation, is fund raising. She is being helped by a variety of sources at the moment, including some bits of the U.S. government, some American sympathizers, and others. But we all hope she will live to an extremely old age; and security is expensive. So for those who wrote and asked how to contribute, here is the information, directly from her office:

The preferred and most immediate way to assist Ms. Hirsi Ali in the financing of her private security protection is through the Ayaan Hirsi Ali Security Trust. This private trust fund can accept non-tax deductible donations from within the United States and internationally, and is entirely dedicated to financing Ms. Hirsi Ali's security.

Checks should be made payable to the Ayaan Hirsi Ali Security Trust and sent to:
Ayaan Hirsi Ali Security Trust, Bank of Georgetown, 1054 31st Street, N.W. Suite 18, Washington, DC  20007. Ayaan Hirsi Ali Trust Tax Identification Number:   75-6826872

For more information please contact: John Matteo (jmatteo@jackscamp.com) or
Mackenzie McNaughton (mmcnaughton@jackscamp.com), representatives for Ms. Hirsi Ali.

 I hope that answers that question.