Vanity Fair
May 15, 2006 11:47 AM Subscribe
Ayaan Hirsi Ali (née Magan) has already been mentioned in several times in Metafilter. Whether you consider her a couragous campaigner for women's rights and against Islamofascism, or a crass opportunist, there's no denying that she's some character. However, it now seems that her Becky-Sharp-ish rise to fame and power also left a similar trail of embittered ex-friends and lies that has ended up landing her in serious trouble with fellow right-winger (also previously mentioned in Metafilter) Rita Verdonk, Dutch Immigration Minister.
Before feeling too sorry for Ayaan, consider that she's moving to Washington DC, where she's landed a job at the American Enterprise Institute. I'm sure she'll fit right in...
Ayaan Hirsi Ali (née Magan) has already been mentioned in several times in Metafilter.
Mentioned mostly by Mefi's own controversial gal pal jenleigh (nee dhoyt), let it be noted.
posted by y2karl at 12:29 PM on May 15, 2006
Mentioned mostly by Mefi's own controversial gal pal jenleigh (nee dhoyt), let it be noted.
posted by y2karl at 12:29 PM on May 15, 2006
I think she probably was both a crass campaigner and courageous opportunist.
I think that's a good assessment. She's definitely using the situation for her benefit, and some of her beliefs are truly over the top and probably more inspired by understanding where her bread is buttered now, but she's also courageous for standing up for what she believes despite threats and great difficulty in doing so.
posted by cell divide at 12:36 PM on May 15, 2006
I think that's a good assessment. She's definitely using the situation for her benefit, and some of her beliefs are truly over the top and probably more inspired by understanding where her bread is buttered now, but she's also courageous for standing up for what she believes despite threats and great difficulty in doing so.
posted by cell divide at 12:36 PM on May 15, 2006
Great timing, the news just came that verdonk (the minister for immigration) stated that Hirsi Ali is not considered to have gained dutch citizenship.
Does she have a dual nationality? If not, she doesn't have a nationality, right?
posted by fvw at 1:12 PM on May 15, 2006
Does she have a dual nationality? If not, she doesn't have a nationality, right?
posted by fvw at 1:12 PM on May 15, 2006
I actually had a great deal of respect for her, but the news about the AEI posting comes as a huge disappointment and a shock. Couldn't she do better than to parachute into that Imperialist thinktank?
posted by slatternus at 1:17 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by slatternus at 1:17 PM on May 15, 2006
Where did you read that fvw?
Although the nrc mentions that a professor of Law argued that by legal precedent she is considered not to have gained dutch citizenship. But Verdonk only has promised to investigate the matter.
posted by jouke at 1:19 PM on May 15, 2006
Although the nrc mentions that a professor of Law argued that by legal precedent she is considered not to have gained dutch citizenship. But Verdonk only has promised to investigate the matter.
posted by jouke at 1:19 PM on May 15, 2006
She's very sweet in person, but very stubborn, and she has a tendency to burn her bridges. The way she helped 'liberate' muslim women will have caught the attention of the AEI who have a similar definition of liberation (Iraq, anyone?) I'm certain she won't last long there, once they find out she's not only anti-Islam, but also pro-gay, anti-religion, and pro-insult.
posted by Zombie Dreams at 1:35 PM on May 15, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by Zombie Dreams at 1:35 PM on May 15, 2006 [1 favorite]
It is all over the Dutch news now that immigration minister Rita Verdonk has send a letter to Ayaan Hirsi Ali that legally her Dutch nationality has been revoked/is withdrawn.
Verdonk is of the same political party as Ayaan, by the way, but campaigning to become the party leader. In order to win this party election she 's aiming to look tough.
Other point: the immigration law changed several years after Ayaan Hirsi Ali become a Dutchwoman. But, to prevent that war criminals could profit from any protection gained by becoming Dutch, it was stated then passports could be withdrawn from anyone who came into the Netherlands under false pretense after 1990.
posted by ijsbrand at 1:47 PM on May 15, 2006
Verdonk is of the same political party as Ayaan, by the way, but campaigning to become the party leader. In order to win this party election she 's aiming to look tough.
Other point: the immigration law changed several years after Ayaan Hirsi Ali become a Dutchwoman. But, to prevent that war criminals could profit from any protection gained by becoming Dutch, it was stated then passports could be withdrawn from anyone who came into the Netherlands under false pretense after 1990.
posted by ijsbrand at 1:47 PM on May 15, 2006
Excellent post, Skeptic.
jouke - Verdonk has now confirmed herself that she considers Ayaan not to have acquired Dutch citizenship. No English-language source yet, but it's all over Dutch news.
Also, keep in mind that Ayaan wrote the scenario to the film that got Theo van Gogh killed. (Previous posts by yours sincerely: 1 2 3)
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:49 PM on May 15, 2006
jouke - Verdonk has now confirmed herself that she considers Ayaan not to have acquired Dutch citizenship. No English-language source yet, but it's all over Dutch news.
Also, keep in mind that Ayaan wrote the scenario to the film that got Theo van Gogh killed. (Previous posts by yours sincerely: 1 2 3)
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:49 PM on May 15, 2006
ijsbrand: jinx.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:50 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:50 PM on May 15, 2006
That'll teach her to trust conlib's.. she's really being spit out by her own partymembers at the moment..
Another low in Dutch history as another law is (mis)used to it's maximum extent and in the meantime the refugee problem continues..
posted by borq at 1:57 PM on May 15, 2006
Another low in Dutch history as another law is (mis)used to it's maximum extent and in the meantime the refugee problem continues..
posted by borq at 1:57 PM on May 15, 2006
Ehm, borq, isn't the way she's treated an example of trustworthiness? Everybody equal for the law; the reverse of nepotism?
posted by jouke at 2:03 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by jouke at 2:03 PM on May 15, 2006
jouke: Except that her party, Verdonk included, were aware of the problem at least since 2002, when she was first asked about it on TV. Only now, Verdonk had been very noisily campaigning against bogus asylum seekers, and Hirsi Ali very noisily keeping quiet about it, when a mischievous TV team made an exposé on the subject...
posted by Skeptic at 2:09 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by Skeptic at 2:09 PM on May 15, 2006
Islamofascism
no clue, no clue whatsoever.
bye bye Ayaan, we'll never hear anything anymore from you and that's just great.
(/whatever)
posted by Substrata at 2:13 PM on May 15, 2006
no clue, no clue whatsoever.
bye bye Ayaan, we'll never hear anything anymore from you and that's just great.
(/whatever)
posted by Substrata at 2:13 PM on May 15, 2006
I just read the article in De Volkskrant, it does seem like she's in a lot of trouble. I can't find this in English just yet...
posted by ob at 3:59 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by ob at 3:59 PM on May 15, 2006
Ehm, borq, isn't the way she's treated an example of trustworthiness? Everybody equal for the law; the reverse of nepotism?
Selective enforcement of laws against political opponents isn't the reverse of nepotism.
posted by delmoi at 4:26 PM on May 15, 2006
Selective enforcement of laws against political opponents isn't the reverse of nepotism.
posted by delmoi at 4:26 PM on May 15, 2006
Also: Leon de Winter for Die Welt. LGF is also having a field day with this, but I'm sure you can find that website yourself.
Man, am I glad jenleigh et al. aren't around for this episode.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:30 PM on May 15, 2006
Man, am I glad jenleigh et al. aren't around for this episode.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:30 PM on May 15, 2006
Indeed, delmoi, but minister Verdonk and Ayaan Hirsi Ali belong to the same party, and thus are not necessarily opponents.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:37 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:37 PM on May 15, 2006
, and thus are not necessarily opponents.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:37 PM EST on May 15 [+fave] [!]
That they are in the same party means little. The fact is that she's an embarrassment to other politicians, and so she's being shown the door. The Dutch are extremely easy going about letting immigrants stay in their country. Isn't it a remarkable coincidence that the one they choose to kick out is the one who says things that they don't want said?
posted by unreason at 4:41 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:37 PM EST on May 15 [+fave] [!]
That they are in the same party means little. The fact is that she's an embarrassment to other politicians, and so she's being shown the door. The Dutch are extremely easy going about letting immigrants stay in their country. Isn't it a remarkable coincidence that the one they choose to kick out is the one who says things that they don't want said?
posted by unreason at 4:41 PM on May 15, 2006
The Dutch are extremely easy going about letting immigrants stay in their country. Isn't it a remarkable coincidence that the one they choose to kick out is the one who says things that they don't want said?
It is, however, I'm leaving my tinfoil hat off for the moment, just in case. Still, as for the "The Dutch are extremely easy going about letting immigrants stay in their country" part, as far as I'm concerned you can mark that down as "The Dutch were".
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:54 PM on May 15, 2006
It is, however, I'm leaving my tinfoil hat off for the moment, just in case. Still, as for the "The Dutch are extremely easy going about letting immigrants stay in their country" part, as far as I'm concerned you can mark that down as "The Dutch were".
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:54 PM on May 15, 2006
delmoi: Selective enforcement of laws against political opponents isn't the reverse of nepotism.
Sorry but you don't know what you're talking about.
unreason: The fact is that she's an embarrassment to other politicians, and so she's being shown the door.
She's been an embarassment for a long time. It's only now that she has to go.
But I do think her party wants to get rid of the divisive elements. Which I think is politically to be expected, but still somewhat a pity.
And yes, it's wrong that her party knew this for so long and didn't do a thing.
posted by jouke at 8:32 PM on May 15, 2006
Sorry but you don't know what you're talking about.
unreason: The fact is that she's an embarrassment to other politicians, and so she's being shown the door.
She's been an embarassment for a long time. It's only now that she has to go.
But I do think her party wants to get rid of the divisive elements. Which I think is politically to be expected, but still somewhat a pity.
And yes, it's wrong that her party knew this for so long and didn't do a thing.
posted by jouke at 8:32 PM on May 15, 2006
delmoi: Verdonk's not being selective, she's being extremely consistent. Political opponents were probably hoping Verdonk would be more lenient to other asylum seekers, instead she's being as harsh on AHA as she's been on others. Remember that Verdonk's from the same right-wing party as AHA, and another right-winger, some may say extremely right-winger, Hilbrand Nawijn (Verdonk's predecessor), was the one to call for this investigation.
posted by Zombie Dreams at 10:42 PM on May 15, 2006
posted by Zombie Dreams at 10:42 PM on May 15, 2006
What Zombie Dreams said.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:27 AM on May 16, 2006
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:27 AM on May 16, 2006
goodnewsfortheinsane writes LGF is also having a field day with this, but I'm sure you can find that website yourself.
Our favourite nutters are providing some top-quality political analysis:
#40 Just_A_Grunt 5/15/2006 11:16AM PDT
The Netherlands will only hasten their demise as a once proud Scandinavian culture that at one time spawned such warriors as the Vikings.
#7 Ward Cleaver 5/15/2006 08:10AM PDT
Great news. Welcome Ms. Ali.
On the other hand, no more Danish ham. Of course in a few years there won't be any Danish ham.
#48 TalkinKamel 5/15/2006 08:22AM PDT
As far as being a country, I think Holland's washed up. It's already practically living under Shari'a.
posted by blag at 2:00 PM on May 16, 2006
Our favourite nutters are providing some top-quality political analysis:
#40 Just_A_Grunt 5/15/2006 11:16AM PDT
The Netherlands will only hasten their demise as a once proud Scandinavian culture that at one time spawned such warriors as the Vikings.
#7 Ward Cleaver 5/15/2006 08:10AM PDT
Great news. Welcome Ms. Ali.
On the other hand, no more Danish ham. Of course in a few years there won't be any Danish ham.
#48 TalkinKamel 5/15/2006 08:22AM PDT
As far as being a country, I think Holland's washed up. It's already practically living under Shari'a.
posted by blag at 2:00 PM on May 16, 2006
blag: thankfully us vikings already grow large beards and slaughter sheep, so we have no trouble satisfying those demands of sharia. I sure am going to miss the famous Dutch Danish ham, though!
Excuse me, I have to retreat to my Lego windmill, now.
posted by Zombie Dreams at 2:13 PM on May 16, 2006
Excuse me, I have to retreat to my Lego windmill, now.
posted by Zombie Dreams at 2:13 PM on May 16, 2006
I know... sometimes you wonder if they're taking the piss. Until you realise that, holy shit, they really are that stupid.
posted by blag at 7:03 PM on May 16, 2006
posted by blag at 7:03 PM on May 16, 2006
Yeah - it's an infinite source of amazement. So anyway, last night's turn of events almost warrants a thread of its own, don't you think?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:25 AM on May 17, 2006
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:25 AM on May 17, 2006
blag, depressing as it may be to y'all, I can testify as a Swede (bona-fide scandinavian) that used to live in the Netherlands (in the part of the netherlands called Holland actually) that many many of my US colleagues and contacts used to refer to the Netherlands as a part of Scandinavia.
I never once corrected them either.
posted by dabitch at 5:56 AM on May 17, 2006
I never once corrected them either.
posted by dabitch at 5:56 AM on May 17, 2006
dabitch: many Dutchmen don't know the difference between Holland and the Netherlands, either. ;-) (for you people who don't know it: Holland is the total of two provinces, north- and south-Holland, in which, admittedly, most of the important stuff happens anyway).
I have no problem with people from other countries not knowing anything about Dutch culture or geography, as long as they don't make any harsh statements about either.
posted by Zombie Dreams at 7:49 AM on May 17, 2006
I have no problem with people from other countries not knowing anything about Dutch culture or geography, as long as they don't make any harsh statements about either.
posted by Zombie Dreams at 7:49 AM on May 17, 2006
I do think Hofstede's research shows the Netherlands to be more like Scandinavian countries, than to be similar to its neighbouring countries.
That link is so damn cool it would almost warrant its own thread, but whatever.
posted by Zombie Dreams at 8:49 AM on May 17, 2006
That link is so damn cool it would almost warrant its own thread, but whatever.
posted by Zombie Dreams at 8:49 AM on May 17, 2006
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I don't understand your Vanity Fair references. But then I have not read VF.
I think she probably was both a crass campaigner and courageous opportunist. Not a politician though.
posted by jouke at 12:21 PM on May 15, 2006