Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

This is a book that has been on my reading list for a while. Lots of people, readers I respect, have recommended it. It's the story of a woman who was born in Somalia, (and also lived Africa and Saudi Arabia). As a child and young woman, she lived the harsh, cruel life of a Muslim woman, with no rights and no chance for love or true happiness. She had to live through female circumcision, beatings from her mother and grandmother only to finally escape an arranged marriage to a cousin by escaping to Holland. She was able to graduate from college and ultimately become a member of Parliament, championing the causes of Muslim women who had emigrated to Holland with their families.

While living in Europe and seeing how 'westernern' women were able to dress as they pleased, go out alone during the day, shop and hold jobs, Ayaan questioned her religion. How was it that these countries, where people were able to live free, were so peaceful and her own, where violence was not only accepted but the law, there was never peace, only death and unrest?

Ultimately she turned her back on Islam, but not without being demonized by not only her own people, but by some Dutch folks as well. "Many Dutch people have told me in all earnestness that nothing in Islamic culture incites abuse of women, that this is just a terrible misunderstanding. Men all over the world beat their women... In reality these Westerners are the ones who misunderstand Islam. The Quran mandates these punishments. It gives a legitimate basis for abuse, so that the perpetrators feel no shame and are not hounded by their conscience or their community." Women were treated that way by their husbands and fathers, because their religion told them that was they way they should be treated. And women were told that they needed to go through this during their lifetime so that when they were in Heaven they would have everything they ever wanted. Ayaan wasn't willing to wait for death to find her own peace.

She fought for the rights of women, even producing a film with a Dutch filmmaker that lead to his brutal stabbing (the murderer stabbed him through the heart, leaving a note on the knife for Ayaan, a warning to stop her crusading).

Her life and writing are an inspiration and an incredible education into this religion and way of life. It's not a flattering picture of life as a Muslim, she still receives death threats but as she writes at the end: "How many girls born in Digfeer Hospital in Mogadishu in November 1969 are even alive today? And how many have a real voice?" She is their voice and a brave and brilliant one indeed.