Assita Kanko and Ayaan Hirsi Ali: “Never compromise on freedom”

MEP Assita Kanko invited the Dutch Ayaan Hirsi Ali to a debate in the European Parliament on the freedom of expression, women’s rights and the future of our community. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a Dutch politician with outspoken opinions on radical Islam and violence against women, among other things. “We have a unique bond,” says Assita Kanko. “We have been through the same things, from genital mutilation to oppression as women standing up for their opinions and freedoms.” The debate was introduced by the French writer and essayist Pascal Bruckner, and MP Theo Francken provided the conclusion and the epilogue.

Getting Ayaan Hirsi Ali to participate in this debate was no small matter. The Dutch politician and activist has already been living under heavy protection for 20 years. She came under heavy fire from part of the Muslim community because of her outspoken views on radical Islam and the position of women in the Muslim community. After the murder of director Theo Van Gogh, she even had to flee the Netherlands, was subjected to several fatwas and has been living in the US for years.

Fighting for our values

In the well-attended debate, Ayaan Hirsi Ali emphasised the need to think carefully about our values. She asks the pertinent question, “Are we willing to fight for our values, even to die for them?” “Freedom must never be compromised,” says Assita Kanko. You must keep standing up for your freedom. Together with Ayaan, I strive for a new feminism, in which we stand up for the universal rights of women, which are above all religious and fractional dogmas.”

Role model for young women

The debate was moderated by French writer and essayist Pascal Bruckner, who takes a stand against “wokeism, radical feminism and the sin of the ‘white heterosexual man’” in his recent publications. He expressed his admiration for both women after the debate: “They never buckled under the pressure and are a real role model for generations of young women.”

MP Theo Francken also led the debate along the right track. He spoke of “two exceptional women who fight for their opinions. They must continue to pave the way, despite all the criticism.”

Democratic impatience

Assita Kanko looks back on the afternoon’s debate with satisfaction, despite all the hard work she had to put in to get Ayaan Hirsi Ali into the European Parliament. “Ayaan and I understand each other in a unique way. We have been through the same things, from genital mutilation, oppression and the struggle to express our opinions. I have already learned a new concept here: ‘democratic impatience’. We must stay impatient and keep fighting for our values.”