Ayan Hirsi Denied Honorary

[Skeptic]

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/4/9/ayaan-hirsi-ali-deniedhonor.html

 

 

University says Somali-born author, who has been critical of Islam, would no longer receive honorary degree

April 9, 2014 1:05AM ET

 

Brandeis University on Tuesday canceled its plan to award Somali-born author Ayaan Hirsi Ali an honorary degree after campus criticism of the selection of an advocate for Muslim women who has made comments critical of Islam.

 

The university said in a statement that Hirsi Ali would no longer receive the honor at the May 18 commencement. The university had offered her, and four other people, the honor eight days ago.

 

Hirsi Ali, a member of the Dutch Parliament from 2003 to 2006, has been quoted as making comments critical of Islam. That includes a 2007 interview with Reason magazine in which she said of the religion, "Once it's defeated, it can mutate into something peaceful. It's very difficult to even talk about peace now. They're not interested in peace. I think that we are at war with Islam. And there's no middle ground in wars."

 

Brandeis, outside Boston in Waltham, Mass., said it had not been aware of Hirsi Ali's statements earlier.

 

"She is a compelling public figure and advocate for women's rights, and we respect and appreciate her work to protect and defend the rights of women and girls throughout the world," said the university's statement. "That said, we cannot overlook certain of her past statements that are inconsistent with Brandeis University's core values."

 

The university, founded in 1948, describes itself as "the only nonsectarian Jewish-sponsored college or university in the country" and is named for the late Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.

 

The Justice, Brandeis’ student newspaper, on Tuesday described Hirsi Ali as "a Somali-born women’s rights activist who has campaigned against female genital mutilation but is also well known for her critical view of Islam; she has at various times called Islam a 'backwards religion' and a 'destructive, nihilistic cult of death' that legitimizes murder."

 

A visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Hirsi Ali was raised in a strict Muslim family, but after surviving a civil war, genital mutilation, beatings and escaping an arranged marriage by immigrating to the Netherlands in 1992, she renounced the faith in her 30s.

 

According to her AEI biography, while in the Dutch parliament "she worked on furthering the integration of non-Western immigrants into Dutch society and defending the rights of women in Dutch Muslim society. In 2004, together with director Theo van Gogh, she made 'Submission,' a film about the oppression of women in conservative Islamic cultures. The airing of the film on Dutch television resulted in the assassination of Mr. van Gogh by an Islamic extremist."

 

More than 85 of about 350 faculty members at Brandeis signed a letter asking for Hirsi Ali to be removed from the list of honorary degree recipients, according to The Associated Press.

 

An online petition created Monday by students at the school of 5,800 had gathered thousands of signatures from inside and outside the university as of Tuesday afternoon.

 

"This is a real slap in the face to Muslim students," said senior Sarah Fahmy, a member of the Muslim Student Association who created the petition before the university withdrew the honor.

 

"But it's not just the Muslim community that is upset but students and faculty of all religious beliefs," she said. "A university that prides itself on social justice and equality should not hold up someone who is an outright Islamophobic."

 

Thomas Doherty, chairman of American studies, refused to sign the faculty letter. He said it would have been good for the university to honor "such a courageous fighter for human freedom and women's rights, who has put her life at risk for those values."

 

Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim advocacy group, said, "It is unconscionable that such a prestigious university would honor someone with such openly hateful views."

 

The organization sent a letter to university President Frederick Lawrence on Tuesday requesting that it drop plans to honor Hirsi Ali.

 

"This makes Muslim students feel very uneasy," Joseph Lumbard, chairman of Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, said in an interview. "They feel unwelcome here."

 

Al Jazeera and wire services

[Safferz]

Well done Brandeis.

[DoctorKenney]

Well done to the Muslim community for raising issue with this. She did not deserve this degree.

 

Funny how a University was actually about to give an honorary PhD Degree to a woman who is not scholarly, who's knowledge is shallow, and who is clearly using her crazed rants to become rich and famous.

[Hawdian]

Not happy at all First I read the headline as ayan hersi is dead. Now I see the witch is still alife . Ding dong the witch must die. Give her one tickct to hell.

[Tallaabo]

I wish every Muslim protested in this civilised manner instead of acting like angry baboons so often.

[Khayr]

<cite>

@Tallaabo

said:</cite>

I wish every Muslim protested in this civilised manner instead of acting like angry baboons so often.

 

As opposed to what? You mean in comparison to how the civilized world and its people protest by way of say Carpet bombings; drone attacks and economic embargos (i.e. starving people).

[Tallaabo]

<cite>

@Khayr

said:</cite>

As opposed to what? You mean in comparison to how the civilized world and its people protest by way of say Carpet bombings; drone attacks and economic embargos (i.e. starving people).

As usual you are comparing oranges and apples.

[Mooge]

ayan lied in her refugee application in holland and was caught years after. this person has no credibility niyoow. she is a witch.

[Khayr]

<cite>

@Tallaabo

said:</cite>

As usual you are comparing oranges and apples.

 

How so? You made a blanket statement that reflects your biase and prejudice towards traditional muslims by using the

despicable term of angry baboons.

All I did was comment on your statement.

My comparison is valid. You haven't given me any reasoning to say otherwise.

[Skeptic]

We should never stay silent in matters of our own interests and in protecting our image .. in doing so, we should not destroy our image nor should we allow others to paint degrading images of us ..

ALLAH made a "just" Ummah!

[Alpha Blondy]

<cite>

@Khayr

said:</cite>

As opposed to what? You mean in comparison to how the civilized world and its people protest by way of say Carpet bombings; drone attacks and economic embargos (i.e. starving people).

 

you can win against the whites by upholding the laws of their country. sadly your kind are to busy issuing fatwas and brandishing jihadist placards like attention fiends. ta kale, if you ignore them, they cease to exist, maha?

[Khayr]

<cite>

@Alpha Blondy

said:</cite>

you can win against the whites by upholding the laws of their country. sadly your kind are to busy issuing fatwas and brandishing jihadist placards like attention fiends. ta kale, if you ignore them, they cease to exist, maha?

 

You know you are like a chihuahua - small with a lot of hot air for barking.

[Alpha Blondy]

<cite>

@Khayr

said:</cite>

You know you are like a chihuahua - small with a lot of hot air for barking.

 

you ought to be repeatedly slapped with pork.

[DoctorKenney]

Alpha, do you log into SomaliaOnline due to your failed comedy career?

 

You're actually not funny, and you attempting to be funny on this forum is gaining you nothing except pity laughs and some rolled eyes.

 

Perhaps you should try a new field? Are you considering it?

[Alpha Blondy]

 

 

<cite>

@DoctorKenney

said:</cite>

Alpha, do you log into SomaliaOnline due to your failed comedy career?

 

You're actually not funny, and you attempting to be funny on this forum is gaining you nothing except pity laughs and some rolled eyes.

 

Perhaps you should try a new field? Are you considering it?

 

ok.

 

lets talk about why you're anti Somaliland?