1. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #79617 by evdsteen on October 18, 2007 at 12:55 am

I find this whole discussion rather revolting, more like what I've seen on fundamentalist christian discussion sites, and I'm not going to take part in it.
I just want to mention one thing: Dutch Patty, even though she may not have been particularly tactful about it, has her facts right. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, when she first came to the Netherlands, lied about what happened to her in her home country, not to protect herself from persecution, but to exaggerate her plight, in order to increase her chances of admission. Understandable, and she is not the only one to have tried that trick. However, no government can be expected to accept that, and the Dutch government was right in reversing her refugee status when it came out.

2. Ayaan Hirsi Ali at AAI 07

Comment #79369 by evdsteen on October 17, 2007 at 4:51 am

"To think she's been abandoned by those in charge in the Netherlands is just beyond belief."
This needs to be seen in perspective. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, upon applying for refugee status in the Netherlands lied about what happened to her in her homeland, not to protect herself from persecution, but to exaggerate her plight, and thus improve her chances of being admitted. Any refugee who would do that, either in the Netherlands or elsewhere, would be rejected, and rightly so. So, however sad it is, and however laudable her ideas and ideals are (and I fully support those), the Netherlands government was right in not giving her preference treatment.