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SOM Leadership Conference: Infidel Author Reflects on Journey; Living with Death Threats
By Roberta Martone Pavia, Contributing Writer
(May 5, 2009) -- In protective security since the publication of her bestselling book Infidel fueled death threats, a quiet and slender Ayaan Hirsi Ali spoke eloquently about her journey to a standing-room-only crowd at the 30th annual SOM Leadership Conference.
Born as a Muslim woman in Somalia, Hirsi Ali was destined to participate in an arranged marriage, but
ultimately defected to The Netherlands where she was subsequently elected to its parliament.
Hirsi Ali told how she grew up in chaos and was taught to obey her religion. She said she vowed her life
would be different. "You have to be obedient, submissive, and refrain from anything that would give shame to
the family…I witnessed my mother's loss of control and decided that, when I grew up, I was not going
to be like her. I would rather risk being called a traitor and going into the unknown."
Hirsi Ali said that we all need to ask, "What moral standards can you follow now, and which ones should you
not follow? Because we live in a global village, you can no longer say it's none of my business. It's all of
our business."