Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Outspoken Critic of Radical Islam, to Speak at National Press Club April 7

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Mar 25, 2015, 10:31 ET

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a best-selling author and outspoken critic of radical Islam, will speak at a National Press Club Luncheon on Tuesday, April 7.

The topic of her presentation will be "Clash of Civilizations: ISIS, Islam, and the West." The luncheon will come two weeks after publication of her latest book, "Heretic: The Case for a Muslim Reformation," copies of which will be available for sale and autographing after the luncheon. Her earlier books include "The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam," "Infidel," and "Nomad."

Born in Somalia and raised in a strict Muslim family, Ms. Hirsi Ali survived female mutilation, civil war and brutal beatings. Upon being married off by her father -- against her will -- to a distant cousin in 1992, she fled to Holland, where she was granted asylum and, later, citizenship. In 2003, she was elected to the Dutch Parliament. She attracted international attention in 2004 when she received a death threat at the time of the assassination of movie director Theo van Gogh. Hirsi Ali worked with van Gogh on their short film, "Submission," about the oppression of women under Islam.

In 2005, Hirsi Ali was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2005, one of the Glamour Heroes of 2005, and the Readers Digest European of the Year. She moved to America soon thereafter and, in 2007, founded the AHA Foundation to protect and defend the rights of women in America from harmful traditional practices; The Foundation focuses on violence against women and girls, including honor violence, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation. She is also a fellow with the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

The Press Club luncheon will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. Remarks will begin at 1:00 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session ending at 2 p.m. Tickets may be purchase here: http://www.press.org/events/npc-luncheon-ayaan-hirsi-ali-author#tickets.

The cost of luncheon admission is $23 for National Press Club members and $37 for non-members. Tickets must be purchased at time of reservation.

National Press Club Luncheons are webcast live on press.org. Follow the conversation or Submit questions for speakers in advance on Twitter and Facebook @ PressClubDC) using the hashtag #NPCLunch. You can email a question in advance, type ALI in the subject line and send to [email protected] before 10 a.m. on the day of event.

The Press Club is on the 13th floor, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. Credentialed press may cover this event with ID.

About the National Press Club

The National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists with more than 3,300 members worldwide representing every major news organization. More than 250,000 people visit the Club each year to attend more than 2,000 events. The Club was founded in 1908 and is on the web at press.org.

For More Information
Melinda Cooke: 202-662-7516 or [email protected]

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SOURCE National Press Club