The question of rights and freedoms in Iraq make me wonder about the role of women in Iraq. Of course I fear the control of the Taliban but I'm not sure how or if the American idea of democracy in Iraq will or will not effect the customs.

I think our image of Iraqi women may be very distorted. It is my understanding that the Koran was very liberating for tribal women way back then. It gave them the right to sexual pleasure in marriage, it gave them reproductive rights, it gave them the right to divorce.

The trouble is, not many Irqis can actually read the Koran and depend on their religious leaders to interpret the writing. Much like the priests role in early Catholicism. If the religious leaders interpret the Koran to say a woman must... a religious woman will do it.

It is also my understanding that Allah is a merciful God but like the God of Jews and Christians, can be invoked as a God of war - depends on the mind set of the religious leaders and politicians. Are there any Koranic scholars out there?

Mostly I am interested in how American style democracy will effect the lives of Muslim women or if it will change anything at all.