Controversial speaker and vocal critic of Islam Ayaan Hirsi Ali has cancelled her speaking tour of Australia and New Zealand, citing security concerns.

Ali was due to appear as a panellist on the ABC's Q&A program tonight, but has also cancelled.

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

Ali said in a statement she regretted that, "for a number of reasons including security concerns", she had to cancel her upcoming appearances.

"She is very disappointed indeed about this but was left with no alternative following a succession of organisational lapses on the part of the event organisers, Think Inc," the statement read.

"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."

Ali is a controversial figure attracting widespread criticism among the liberal left and death threats from the religious right.

She was born to a Muslim family in Somalia but renounced her religion after seeking political asylum in the Netherlands in the early 1990s.

She has repeatedly criticised radical Islamists and sharia law and wants moderate Muslims to reform their religion.

Ali was elected to the Dutch Parliament in 2003 representing the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) — which employed Geert Wilders as a speechwriter before he formed his own far-right party.

She moved to the United States in 2004 after receiving death threats for helping to make a short film that showed images of violence against women alongside verses from the Koran.

Sorry, this video has expired Women's rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali appeared on Q&A last year.

Editor's note April 17, 2017: An earlier version of this story said Ali "joined Geert Wilders' far right party" in the Netherlands. She actually joined the VVD, which employed Wilders as a speechwriter.



