Islam, liberalism and the dilemmas of free societies with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

In this address, human rights activist and author Ayaan Hirsi Ali confronts the most pressing dilemmas facing liberal societies today. Drawing from her unique personal journey and deep understanding of Islamic ideology, Hirsi Ali offers a framework for distinguishing between what she terms "Medina Muslims" dedicated to establishing a caliphate, the majority of Muslims simply living their lives, and Muslim reformers actively working to reconcile their faith with modern values.

Through three revealing stories, Turkish President Erdogan's ambitions of conquest, Australian jihadists attempting to reach Syria, and the dangerous accusations of apostasy levelled by Islamist organisations. Hirsi Ali illustrates the challenges liberal democracies face when balancing freedom with security. She argues that our greatest vulnerability lies not in external threats, but in our own moral relativism and self-censorship.

Hirsi Ali rejects the conflation of criticising ideas with racism, warning that political correctness has created a dangerous vacuum that jihadists eagerly exploit. She makes the case that liberal societies must reclaim their commitment to individual rights over collective identities, and fearlessly defend freedom of speech even when uncomfortable.