Photo: Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Ayaan Hirsi Ali has lived a life that is almost impossible to read without flinching. Born in Mogadishu, she endured a brutal childhood, rose to become a member of parliament in the Netherlands, studied at Leiden University, and later reinvented herself again in America as a writer and public thinker. Whatever one makes of her specific arguments on faith and freedom, the weight of her testimony is undeniable, and she has refused to be silenced even under genuine threat to her life. I do not have to agree with every position to deeply respect anyone willing to put their lived experience into words at that cost.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Ayaan Hirsi Ali
- Name (Japanese)
- アヤーン・ヒルシ・アリ
- Reading
- あやーん・ひるし・あり
- Born
- November 13, 1969 (age 56)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Scorpio / Rooster
- Origin
- Mogadishu, Banaadir, Somalia
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- politician / activist / screenwriter / journalist / scientist
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Leiden University
Awards & achievements
- 2004 Harriët Freezer Ring
- 2008 Richard Dawkins Award
- Simone de Beauvoir Prize
- 2004 Dutchman of the Year
- 2010 Jyllands-Posten's Freedom of Expression Award
- 2008 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards
- 2006 European of the Year
- 2006 The Glass of Reason
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Submission | — | |
| Notable work | The Caged Virgin | — | |
| Notable work | Infidel | — | |
| Notable work | Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now | — | |
| Notable work | Nomad: From Islam to America | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Ayaan Hirsi Ali born?
Born November 13, 1969 (age 56).
Where is Ayaan Hirsi Ali from?
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is from Mogadishu, Banaadir, Somalia.
What does Ayaan Hirsi Ali do?
Ayaan Hirsi Ali works as politician, activist, screenwriter, journalist, scientist.
What is Ayaan Hirsi Ali known for?
Notable works include Submission, The Caged Virgin, Infidel.
Politician — see all → · Activist — see all → · More people from Somalia →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.