Blimey! This is fast becoming absurd and it's because CarolC doesn't seem to be able to understand a basic point no matter how slowly and clearly Wolfgang, Giok (and to a certain extent) Freda and myself put it.

We know problems are not limited to Islam. But Islam still has not grown out of using religion to justify the indefensible and it does this TO A FAR GREATER EXTENT THAN OTHER RELIGION. Hindus beat their wifes in the name of religion, Christians beat their wives in the name of religion, but the secular rules of their societies mean they are breaking the law of the land each time they do so. Not so with sharia law - NOT ONLY DOES IT FAIL TO PROTECT WOMEN IT ACTIVELY ENCOURAGES MEN TO RULE THEIR LIVES. In India or America the religious freak who shoots a woman for 'immorality' has broken the law. In Pakistan and Afghanistan he has conformed to it. In many Muslim countries where he may have broken the letter of a law made for the sake of the countries' international reputation, not much happens because the majority of the Muslim inhabitants' lives are still ruled by Islamic custom rather than by the expectations of the international community. The same in India you say? Not so because such murders are widely condemned by the mainstream media, widely attacked by politicians and decent Hindu priests and laypeople and women's groups (who are allowed to exist!)and are subject to the attentions of crusading film-makers and journalists (none of whom have ever been murdered for their efforts as far as I know). Anyone who regular reads the online editions of 'The Hindu' 'The Deccan Herald' and reads the magazine 'India Today' knows that disgust at these atavistic actions are widely condemned in India. Not so in extreme Muslim countries.

I'm from Tassie Freda, when I'm not in India and Britain.