Ayaan Hirsi Ali to Brandeis University: You’ve Betrayed Your Founding Principles

Yesterday Nick Gillespie
detailed how Ayaan
Hirsi Ali, an outspoken critic of how women and girls are
treated under Islamic law, was offered an honorary degree from
Brandeis University in Massachusetts, only to have the offer
abruptly withdrawn. This was likely due, in part, to some comments
she made to Reason magazine about there being no such
thing as “moderate Islam.” Gillespie noted that, clearly, Brandeis
knew very little about Hirsi Ali’s background or her book,
Infidel, when it extended the honorary degree offer (or
the school’s just playing dumb).

Hirsi Ali has responded Brandeis’ statement withdrawing its
offer, and she is fairly appalled:

What was initially intended as an honor has now devolved into a
moment of shaming. Yet the slur on my reputation is not the worst
aspect of this episode. More deplorable is that an institution set
up on the basis of religious freedom should today so deeply betray
its own founding principles. The “spirit of free expression”
referred to in the Brandeis statement has been stifled here, as my
critics have achieved their objective of preventing me from
addressing the graduating Class of 2014. Neither Brandeis nor my
critics knew or even inquired as to what I might say. They simply
wanted me to be silenced. I regret that very much.

Not content with a public disavowal, Brandeis has invited me “to
join us on campus in the future to engage in a dialogue about these
important issues.” Sadly, in words and deeds, the university has
already spoken its piece. I have no wish to “engage” in such
one-sided dialogue. I can only wish the Class of 2014 the best of
luck—and hope that they will go forth to be better advocates for
free expression and free thought than their alma mater. I take this
opportunity to thank all those who have supported me and my work on
behalf of oppressed woman and girls everywhere.

Read her full statement
here. Read her 2007 interview with Reason magazine
here.