NAN-F-10
Tour
Sydney, April 3, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Controversial author and prominent anti-Islamist activist Ayaan Ali has been forced to pull out of a planned speaking tour to Australia and New Zealand due to security concerns, organisers said on Monday.
The author was due to appear on ABC television’s top show “Q&A” as a panellist before starting her speaking event, “Hero of Heresy,” at different cities in Australia and New Zealand later this week.
“Think Inc regrets that, for a number of reasons including security concerns, Ali, must cancel her upcoming appearances in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Auckland.
“We wish Ali success in her future endeavours,” Suzi Jamil, one of organisers said in a statement.
The ex-Dutch parliamentarian lives under round-the-clock security having received repeated death threats due to her criticisms of radical Islamists, as well as Islam’s treatment of women.
She has also called for Muslims to reform their religion.
Her trip to Australia had sparked protest from a group of Muslim women accusing her of hate-mongering and bigotry.
“Against a backdrop of increasing global Islamophobia, Ali’s divisive rhetoric simply serves to increase hostility and hatred towards Muslims,” an online petition said against her tour in Australia.
Her tour was alresdy signed by nearly 400 people.
The organisers said about 2,000 tickets had been sold to Hirsi Ali’s speaking events in Australia.
She “hopes to be able to return to Australia (and New Zealand) in the not-too-distant future,” the organisers said. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/SH
=====
Edited by Celine-Damilola/Sadiya Hamza