Heretic

Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now

In Heretic, Ayaan Hirsi Ali writes that a religious reformation is the only way to end the terrorism, sectarian warfare, and repression of women and minorities that each year claim thousands of lives throughout the Muslim world. She argues that the violent acts of Islamic extremists cannot be divorced from the religious doctrine that inspires them. Instead, she says, we must confront the fact that they are driven by a political ideology embedded in Islam itself.

Today, Hirsi Ali argues, the world's 1.6 billion Muslims can be divided into a minority of extremists, a majority of observant but peaceable Muslims, and a few dissidents who risk their lives by questioning their own religion. Hirsi Ali writes that there is only one Islam and “some of its key teachings—not least the duty to wage holy war—inspire violence not just in the Muslim world but in the West as well.”

Following is a sampling of media in which Ayaan Hirsi Ali writes and talks about her book:

Opinions

• Islam is Not a Religion of Peace: Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Salon, 4/4/15)
• Beware of Michiganistan (TIME, 4/1/15)
• America's Academies for Jihadists (Wall Street Journal, 3/31/15)
• The Islam Reformers vs the Muslim Zealots (Washington Post, 3/27/15)
• Why Islam Needs a Reformation (Wall Street Journal, 3/23/15)
• Reform is the Best Weapon Against Radical Islam (Boston Globe, 3/23/15)
• From Selma to Tunis: When Will We March Against the Segretation of Our Own Time? (Huffington Post, 3/23/15)

Interviews

• Ayaan to Liberals: Get Your Priorities Straight (Daily Beast, 4/5/15)
• Ayaan Hirsi Ali on Radical Islam & Fouad El Bayly (Fox's "The O'Reilly Factor," 4/2/15)
• Islam Extremism and the Role of Women (WAMU's Diane Rehm Show, 3/31/15)
• Ayaan Hirsi Ali on How to Reform Islam (CNN's "GPS" with Fareed Zakaria, 3/28/15)
• Ayyan Hirsi Ali discusses Heretic (Fox's "Fox and Friends," 3/25/15)
• Ayaan Hirsi Ali on Heretic (BBC's "Newsnight," 3/25/15)