Freedom, Multiculturalism, and Religion … A Review of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s The Caged Virgin

Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a Somalian-born Muslim woman. She escaped an arranged marriage, immigrated to The Netherlands, and was eventually elected to its federal Parliament. There she fought for: the rights of Muslim women in Europe, the Enlightenment of Islam, and security in the West. In The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam, published by Free Press Simon and Shuster (2008), Ali communicates an important and timely message about Islam. She calls on Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to use reasoning and to question the principles and practices of Islam. She urges upon the responsibility of people living in democracies, or those who have the power of voice, to speak up against violence, oppression and intolerance. She also asks that Muslim women not become exempt from the protection of national criminal codes in the name of religious freedom and multiculturalism.

“Criticism of Islam does not mean that the faithful reject it. But it does mean that the faithful examine particular ideas and teachings that, when applied in real life, lead to brutal behaviour with unacceptable consequences.”

Ali calls for the use of reason to question the principles and practices of Islam, particularly as they relate to women. She argues that Islamic norms do not presently welcome open questioning of scripture or practice. She encourages Muslims to permit self-analysis. In The Caged Virgin, Ali shares the strengths of her faith, yet seeks to expose the blemishes of the culture, particularly its cruel treatment of women. She notes the connection between the rules of the Koran and violence against women. Ali cites forced marriages and female circumcision as just a couple examples of the violence inflicted on women under the guidance of a religious doctrine left un-questioned.

“For a while now I have been asserting that the most effective way for the European Union governments to deal with their Muslim minorities is to empower the Muslim women living within their borders. The best tool for empowering these women is education. This could be an opportunity to make Muslim integration a success in one generation. Most political actors will unanimously condemn violence against women, yet little resources are attributed to provide the necessary legal framework and data to help policy makers make women’s rights a priority…No NGO yet monitors the number of times an honour killing is committed in a member state, or the number of times a girl is circumcised, or the number of times a girl is removed from school and forced into a life of virtual slavery.”

Ali herself, quite boldly, dares to critique the example of Mohamed, citing his use of violence to spread the faith, and his marriage to a nine-year old girl. For this act of freethinking and critical expression, Ali lives with death threats from some of her fellow Muslims. This example itself demonstrates a need for open questioning of some scripture-supported behaviour within Islam. A religion whose basic intention is love ought not encourage righteousness and license violence. Ali calls upon her fellow Muslims to live their religion and not censor reasoning.

“If Christians, Jews, and atheists take to the streets in large numbers to protest against their own elected governments in objection to the war in Iraq, to the war against terror, why don’t Muslims march in equally large number against the beheadings of Western aid workers?”

“No book, not even a holy one, is above review.”

The Caged Virgin offered interesting presentation and composition. Chapters included: personal tales from Ali’s own family upbringing, an interview with Irshad Manji, political news, facts, figures, as well as scripture, philosophy, and socio-political theory. It was a seemingly easy and quick read despite its depth and propensity to impassion.

I found the book particularly relevant in Canada where Muslim immigrants represent Canada’s largest wave of newcomers. Multiculturalism is a pillar of Canadian values. As such we are accustomed to diverse dress, colours, and we sanctimoniously defend the rights of Canadians to practice their cultures of origin. This has evolved into a relatively peaceful Canadian society where nearly every country in the world is represented and celebrated.

We take comfort in this model as the current large wave of Muslim immigrants settle; we silence natural critiques about attitudes between the sexes, and of sex itself. We ignore messages of intolerance against the West that we live in, rationalizing that those are only the most vocal voices of the most extreme fundamentalists. We seek to connect to the richness of many Muslim countries: their passion, kindness, food, music, and ritual, seeking connection with the many beauties that Muslim cultures bring with them. However, to borrow from John Stuart Mill, my freedom ends where it begins to impede upon your freedom and your freedom ends where it begins to impede upon my freedom.

“As thinking human beings, we should never censor our analytic thoughts; we should never censor our reason.”

I liked The Caged Virgin because it reasserted my instinctual inclination to critique things such as headscarves, and the overall manifestations of a religion/lifestyle that reduces the freedoms of women. This applies in countries around the world, however is most relevant to me in Canada, my country, where the long-tooted model of successful multiculturalism contextualizes this lifestyle and, I feel threatens the freedom that I possess as a Canadian woman. Ali’s book has given me armour to critique without fear of being called a racist; I am a woman of colour myself. Though I passionately defend the benefits of diversity, I do not accept that they come at the cost of the reduction of the position of women in society.

The Canadian multicultural model enjoys many examples of successful ethnic community integration into governance, business, and society at large. A rise in the social and economic positions of women in those ethnic groups has been a key factor to integration. New generations of Muslim women, if socially, physically, and economically protected and empowered, will discover for themselves the balance between reverence and rights.

“Only an approach that addresses both the socioeconomic disadvantages and cultural factors unique to Islam offers a real chance of promoting successful integration. Failure to do so would be catastrophic, above all for the weakest group of Muslim immigrants, the women and girls.”

As a result of immigration policy, the world’s cultures participate in the Canadian multicultural model. Newcomers to such a system should feel welcomed, while at the same time recognize that all forms of co-operation require the voluntary reduction in an individuals’ sovereignty. Likewise, Canadian newcomers need concede some practices of their culture to Canadian values. The rights of women are amongst these values. Encouraging this balance is required for the prosperous and peaceful integration of Canada’s newcomers. It is only byway of such integration shall we continue to enjoy our dynamic cultural rhythms in Canadian society.

I enjoyed the read and recommend The Caged Virgin. Check out the book at your local library or http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Caged-Virgin-Emancipation Proclamation-Women-Ayaan-Hirsi-Ali/9780743288347-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527the+caged+virgin%2527

You are welcome to share your thoughts on the book or topic in comments below. I am curious to know what you think of it all.

Peace,