Brian Mikkelsen, the Danish culture minister, has said that Denmark should offer safe haven to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, after the Netherlands government said it would stop protecting the Dutch ex-MP from Islamic extremists.
Mikkelsen has asked the country’s municipalities to invite the author and filmmaker to live there under a new parliament proposal to establish several ‘free cities’ for persecuted writers.
"Ayaan Hirsi Ali will be number one on the list of authors we should invite to Denmark," Mikkelsen said on Sunday.
"She has fought for the freedom of expression and has personally received threats on her life."
Ayaan Hirsi Ali has been living under the protection of the Dutch state since 2004.
The Netherlands government however said last week that it would stop paying for her protection as it was too expensive.
Mikkelsen said that Denmark would pay the full cost of protecting the Somali-born writer if she moved to Denmark.
Comments (3)
Anthony Norman,
That would be an excellent proposal for the PM (of any hue), except for the fact that we do not have, nor do we practice, free expression in the UK!
Posted by Machiavelli's Understudy | October 18, 2007 2:34 AM
Posted on October 18, 2007 02:34
So far this is just a suggestion : the decision is with the municipalities.
But what a great opportunity for Gordon Brown to offer protection in the UK ??!! It would be a great statement about the true nature of asylum: the protection of those defending values compatible with freedom as defined by the protector.
This "caged virgin" would unleash an enormous debate on where the West stands with religions that subjugate and destroy women, amongst others.
Is Cameron brave enough, ideologically certain enough, to even broach this subject?
Posted by anthony norman | October 17, 2007 12:12 AM
Posted on October 17, 2007 00:12
My goodness. Thank you Mr. Mikkelsen and the Danish nation. What a truly great decision this is.
J. Isaacs
Posted by J. Isaacs | October 15, 2007 10:52 PM
Posted on October 15, 2007 22:52