Ayaan Hirsi Ali (photo: Lisa Wiltse, The Sydney Morning Herald)

I gotta ask you, I hope you don’t mind: what is your reasoning for supporting Ayaan Hirsi Ali?

 - an email I received

A lot of people, particularly Muslims, have asked me why I support Ayaan Hirsi Ali. A fair question. Hirsi Ali isn’t exactly popular among mainstream Muslims. Then again, I’m not a mainstream Muslim. I’m not even a moderate one.

But I’ll give you more than that.

While I don’t agree with all of Hirsi Ali’s views on Islam, I understand that her interpretations of the faith come from her experiences within it. More than this, I respect her right to believe - and disbelieve - as she sees fit. Mostly, I am secure enough in my own faith to not be offended by someone’s choice to leave it.

Unlike some atheists, Hirsi Ali doesn’t take a “missionary” stance against religion. As a Muslim, and especially as a Muslim woman, I feel that Hirsi Ali not only respects my choice to remain faithful, but I believe that she, while not what I’d call a champion for Islam - is a champion for human rights. She stands up unconditionally for the rights of women in the Muslim world - something many faithful will not do, if standing against injustice means airing uncomfortable truths about Islam and Muslims.

One thing that solidifies Hirsi Ali’s integrity in my eyes is what she said to fellow dissident Irshad Manji, who asked Hirsi Ali if she was “naïve” for remaining a Muslim. Hirsi Ali’s response? “Don’t go. Islam needs you”. If Hirsi Ali were the person her critics make her out to be, she wouldn’t support Muslims in their journey to reconcile faith and freedom. Nor would she support those of us who observe Islam peacefully, and live Islam as it was meant to be lived - embracing critical thinking, empathy,  justice, and non-violence.

In the introduction to Infidel, Hirsi Ali says: “People ask me if I have some kind of death wish, to keep saying the things I do. The answer is no: I would like to keep living. However, some things must be said, and there are times when silence becomes an accomplice to injustice”.

Sister, I couldn’t agree more. May the realization that silence is not just an accomplice - but equal to the perpetration of injustice - be the defining ethos by which we lead our lives. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is one atheist Muslims can certainly take a lesson from.

If that makes me an infidel - then so be it. I’ll take it as a compliment.