dinsdag, 16 mei 2006

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

She came here in search of a better future, a better life.
She had something to say, she was on a mission.
But our oh, so tolerant country restricted her freedom of speech. She was threatened to be killed by several people. She could not move freely – she was surrounded by security. Then her neighbours robbed her from her only save haven: her house – they were scared by the threat her presence – the controversy that surrounded her – could be to the neighbourhood…
But that was not enough.
Because she lied about her name and country of origin when she applied for Dutch nationality in 1997, the immigration department claims she achieved her Dutch passport on illegal grounds…

True, Ayaan should not have lied, but she never hid this fact. We knew it FOUR years ago. Why act now? Why act so fast? Why endanger her life?
Only because the minister of Immigration is in the race for leadership of a certain political party – the one Ayaan is a member of – she shows her (political) correctness and takes away Ayaans nationality…

“It is difficult to live with so many threats on your life and such a level of police protection,” Hirsi Ali said. “It is difficult to work as a parliamentarian if you have nowhere to live. All that is difficult but not impossible. It has become impossible since last night.”(source)

Dear Ayaan, your methods might have not been the most subtle – to say the least -, but I personally will miss your power, your perseverance. One of the 100 most influential people in the world is forced to move to America. A political refugee. I hope you can live freely there and I hope people will appreciate you for who you are.

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