Amal Aden (born 1983) is the pseudonym of a Somali–Norwegian writer. She is an author, lecturer and lesbian activist. Aden is substitute member of the Norwegian Press Complaints Commission and has been a contributor to the newspaper Dag og Tid since January 2013.

Early and personal life

Aden was born in Somalia, and became an orphan at the age of four. She was illiterate, and immigrated to Norway through family reunification as a thirteen-year-old in 1996, after living as a street child for seven years. She struggled at first with the meeting of another culture, child protection and other public services which she claims were unable to help her. She ended up in the drug environment in the Oslo city district of Grønland, and lived on the streets of the same city periodically. Today however, she is self-employed and works as an interpreter for the police, schools and other instances, as well as being an advisor and lecturer for municipalities and other instances. She is the mother of two twins and since 2002 she has lived in Hønefoss.

Career

Amal Aden published her first book in 2008 and has published several books since. She has received several awards, first of them Zola-prisen (a Norwegian prize named after the French writer and intellectual Émile Zola) in 2010 for her work with immigration and integration issues.

Threats

In 2013, following her participation in the Oslo Pride Parade, Amal Aden says she received 146 threatening messages. Aden is an outspoken Muslim-lesbian activist.

Honours and recognitions