Let us recognize that we can no longer tolerate violent

"Let us recognize that we can no longer tolerate violent oppression of women in the name of religion and culture any more than we would tolerate violent oppression espoused by any other bully in the name of a twisted rationale." These words, spoken by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, are a clarion call to the heart of humanity. They urge us to confront the dark forces that, under the guise of religion and culture, perpetuate the suffering of half of humankind. It is a call to stand firm against the twisted justifications that are used to justify violence against women, and to recognize that oppression, regardless of the rationale, is an affront to the dignity of all people.

In the ancient scrolls, the battle between freedom and tyranny has always been waged. The tyrants of old, like those who came before the great philosophers, sought to suppress the voices of the weak and the marginalized. Yet, history has taught us that oppression, whether it takes the form of a sword, a whip, or a twisted ideology, cannot withstand the strength of the human spirit. The great Philosopher Socrates taught that "an unexamined life is not worth living," urging humanity to look beyond the justifications of the oppressors and to search for truth, for justice, and for a world where no soul is shackled by violence.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali's words remind us that the fight for women's freedom and equality is not a new battle, but one that has been fought since the dawn of time. Consider the story of Joan of Arc, a young woman who, in the face of unimaginable opposition, led an army to battle. Though she was eventually captured and condemned to death, her legacy lives on as a symbol of courage and resistance against tyranny. Joan's unwavering spirit, even in the face of death, is a testament to the strength of the human soul and the unbreakable will to fight for what is just. Just as she defied the oppressive forces of her time, we, too, must rise against the oppressive forces that seek to subjugate women today.

Yet, let us not be deceived. Oppression wears many masks. In some places, it wears the veil of tradition, while in others, it masquerades as divine will. Religion and culture, when twisted to serve the whims of the powerful, become weapons that are used to suppress, to silence, and to subjugate. Just as the mighty Roman Empire fell, not through the strength of its enemies, but through the rot that grew within its own walls, so too must we recognize that the oppression of women, under the guise of any rationale, is a cancer that poisons the very soul of society. Tolerating such violence is to condone the collapse of our shared humanity.

As we stand in the face of this injustice, we are called to act. We are called to recognize that the fight for women’s rights is not a fight for one gender or one group of people, but for the humanity of all. When women are oppressed, the fabric of society is torn asunder. When one group is held down, none of us are truly free. Let us be clear: the violent oppression of women in any form, whether it is through forced marriages, genital mutilation, or the stifling of their voices, is an evil that must be eradicated from the earth. No culture, no religion, no tradition should ever serve as a shield for such barbarism.

In every corner of the world, we are bound by the same universal truth: all human beings, regardless of gender, race, or creed, are born with the same inherent dignity and rights. History has shown us that tyrants, whether they rule with an iron fist or a false sense of divinity, can be defeated. But to do so, we must first look into our own hearts, recognize the injustice, and rise against it. Just as the ancient heroes, from Achilles to Hercules, were called to face the darkness and to fight for what is right, so too are we summoned to fight the darkness of oppression today.

And so, we must ask ourselves: What will we do in the face of such evil? Will we turn a blind eye, as many have done before us? Or will we take a stand, recognizing that no oppression—no matter the guise it wears—can ever be tolerated? The lesson here is clear: the fight for women’s rights is the fight for our own humanity. It is a fight that demands courage, compassion, and above all, action. Let us rise, as one people, and declare that violence against women, in any name, under any banner, will no longer be tolerated. And in doing so, we ensure that the world we leave behind is one where justice reigns, and freedom flourishes for all.