At least one European is not allowing herself to be intimidated: the magnificent Ayaan Hirsi Ali. From Expatica, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
She appeared in the Lower House shortly after 2pm for her first Question Time since she went into hiding some two months ago after the brutal murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh. The Somali-born MP was hotly followed by Dutch and foreign media journalists and camera crews.Hirsi Ali was also escorted into the parliament chamber by a horde of protection officers from the Royal and Diplomatic Security Service, and several bodyguards from a private security company.
Lower House chairman Frans Weisglas welcomed Hirsi Ali back prior to the start of the parliament's first question hour after the end of the Christmas recess. "Dear Ayaan, welcome back among us. We have missed you," he said.
Weisglas also said he hoped that Hirsi Ali — who moves on a daily basis from safe house to safe house — can soon resume her normal work outside of the parliament. "We hope to soon hear your voice here in the House again," he said, to loud applause from the public tribune....
Hirsi Ali said she was pleased to be back and Van Aartsen said her return represented a joyful and fantastic day.
Soon after the brutal killing, it was discovered that Islamic extremists were planning to murder Hirsi Ali. She was then flown by the Dutch military from the airbase Valkenburg on 10 November to the US base Brunswick in the state of Maine.
The two terrorist suspects arrested after a 14-hour stand-off in The Hague on 10 November are accused of planning the Muslim-born MP's murder. It has since been revealed that the murder was planned for New Year's Eve, when fireworks would disguise the sound of shooting.
Hirsi Ali is known for her strong criticism of the Islamic faith, having previously called the prophet Mohammed a pervert by modern standards for taking a child bride. She also co-wrote with Van Gogh the film Submission, which took a critical look at domestic violence in the Islam faith.
The film is believed to be the prime motivation behind Van Gogh's murder and a note left plunged into the filmmaker's body with a knife warned that Hirsi Ali was next.
But speaking at a press conference at about 4pm, Hirsi Ali said she had discussed at length with Van Gogh the possible dangers of making the film. She also said it was terrible that others had resorted to violence.
Nevertheless, Hirsi Ali also declared to the world that she would continue with her fight against the radical side to the Islamic faith: "Ladies and gentlemen, I will continue".
Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them. -
Ralph Waldo Emerson
This beautiful and amazing woman can best be described as a FREEDOM FIGHTER - she is literally fighting for the freedom of speech in an un-free world.
Somewhat off topic but an example of anti-dhimmutude in Holland. A woman had her purse snatched off the back seat of her car by a youth who tried to escape on the back of a scooter. The woman reversed the car after the scooter and hit it pinning the thief against a tree and killing him. The thief isn't identified in the article so I e-mailed the Dutch blogger who posted it asking if he knew the thief's name (i.e. Ahmed, Mohammed, etc.) Apparently it is Ali B. (no surname for privacy) - no surprise there.
A subsequent posting indicated the woman has been charged with manslaughter. She deserves a medal.
http://www.news24.com/News24/Backpage/Crime_Court/0,5583,2-1343-1345_1648697,00.html
The radiance of the soul of Ayaan Hirsi Ali in the firmament of liberty is truly breathtaking. She knows full well the risks of speaking out in accord with her conscience. Soldiers know that if they survive the horror of combat they will someday come home. Hirsi Ali will never know such comfort. She knows that she will for the rest of her life be on the frontline of a very real shooting war. For her the state of combat will never end until her last breath.