"When a region's stagnation is cultural as much as it is legal. . . "

"wherever sharia is the law of the land, it's safe to say women's rights could use a lot more protection . . ."

First of all, sharia is not "cultural" -- it is religious. Sharia is the system of laws and obligations that the Koran demands every Muslim practice. It covers everything from how one is to go to the bathroom to how to properly beat one's wife to how non-Muslims are to be treated in both the public and private sphere. Islam also demands that sharia be inflicted upon non-Muslims in areas where Muslims predominate, because any other system is an offense to Allah.

The degraded, subjugated position of women in Islamic societies is either instigated or supported by their own religion. The reason why this report will be "controversial" is because, in suggesting that women should be treated with equality of dignity, humanity and rights, it is asking Muslims to become . . . well, not Muslim.

Other than Hypatia's usual incisive comments, why the lack of posts here? Could it be that the Salon brigade of Muslim apologists is tiring? I know, it must be that they have *so* many things to explain away that they simply haven't gotten to this topic yet.

Oh man, I was reading the archive and came across you and your arrogant rants again. Is apologist your favorite word now? Well apologist here. I refuse to hate an entire religion. So yes, while the so-called apologists were out explaining other stuff the venemous haters (namely you) obviously decided to rear your ugly heads again. So if I'm an apologist, you're a fucking HATER. I'd rather be an apologist any day to a fucking hater. I only wish I'd read this post the day it was posted (not sure if you'll read my comments now). It appears you love to write much on yours posts like a preacher on an imaginary pulpit and I know response to your posts is exactly what you want but just wanted to say grow up Golden Boy (I find your alias quite interesting) - whether there are a bunch of wacky Muslims out there or not, justifying hate towards them isn't a solution.