Ayaan Hirsi Ali cancels Australian tour citing security concerns

The controversial speaker and vocal critic of Islam Ayaan Hirsi Ali has blamed the last-minute cancellation of her speaking tour of Australia and New Zealand on “a succession of organisational lapses” by the event organiser.

The news of Hirsi Ali’s cancellation was publicised on Twitter by the ABC’s Q&A, on which she was due to be a panellist on Monday night.

Hirsi Ali’s Hero of Heresy tour was due to begin in Brisbane on Thursday, before taking her to Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland.

The 47-year-old Somali-born activist, author and former politician has previously received death threats for her strident criticism of Islam. Her appearances in Australia had been opposed by a group of prominent Muslim women, who said that she espoused “hate-mongering and bigotry”.

In a statement Think Inc, the event organiser, said the cancellation was due to a “number of reasons including security concerns”.

A spokeswoman told Guardian Australia she was “incredibly disappointed” the tour would not be going ahead. “We’re a little bit crushed.”

A representative for Hirsi Ali at the AHA Foundation against violence against women repeated that the tour had been cancelled due to a “number of reasons including security concerns”.

But she added that Hirsi Ali had been “left with no alternative” but to cancel the tour due to “a succession of organisational lapses on the part of ... Think Inc”.

“Nevertheless, she wishes Think Inc success in their future endeavours and hopes to be able to return to Australia in the not too distant future.”

Think Inc has been contacted for its response.

Hana Assafiri, a Melbourne Muslim activist who had campaigned against Hirsi Ali’s appearance, told Guardian Australia Hirsi Ai was being held accountable for her “divisive discourse”.

“What I think is this is an opportunity for her to rethink her position ... which peddles hate towards people.

“To me this is one of the hallmarks of democracy: where people have a right of reply.”

Assafiri suggested the cancellation of Hirisi Ali’s tour showed Australians would not accept “this divisive, simplistic” speech.

Protests had been organised outside the venues at which Hirsi Ali was due to speak to coincide with her appearances.

Last month the Think Inc spokeswoman said one protester had been contacting insurance companies in an attempt to get the company’s insurance cancelled. Think Inc had been working with Australian Federal Police and state police to ensure the security of the events.

Last Wednesday it warned ticket holders they would be subjected to searches of their bags and persons.

In Melbourne, “Meet & Greet Ticket Holders” had also been requested to provide their full name, date of birth and residential address “because of the intimacy of this environment”.

Assafiri said security concerns had not seemed to trouble Hirisi Ali previously.

“A group of feminists opposing her rhetoric – we’re not a security threat, and she’s got a whole security entourage with her.

“She has been invited time and again to engage with activist, feminist Muslim women and engage in conversation with a community of progressive Muslims and her decline, to me, speaks volumes.”