'"A Saudi court sentenced a woman who had been gang raped to six months in jail and 200 lashes."'


                   One of the major reasons the West is reluctant to take a postition on an issue like this is because the actions of the court are sanctioned by religion.

                   What is rarely discussed in forums dealing with basic human rights is this: one can't choose his/her race, gender, and in most cases ethnicity, but one has to choose a religion. For that reason, religion shouldn't be afforded the same considerations as the other issues, but it often is.

                   When the world community begins to treat religion in the same manner as other human choices (racism, Nazism, bird watching, etc.), it will be able to take a constructive role in mitigating situations like the one cited above.