Nerd-The theocratic government is a purely Muslim construct. The Persians, and the Sassanids who followed them, were secular monarchies. Many elements of Muslim theology, developed by Arabs, play an overwhelming role in Iranian culture. It is true that the official language is Farsi, but the ruling elements draw primarily from Arab Muslim sources for doctrine and law.

mary garvey-From a coldly pragmatic standpoint, it is much worse to kill women, at least those young enough to bear children, than to kill men. When you add that to the fact that most countries have very few women in their armed forces, and that women are less likely to engage in civilian insurrection or guerilla warfare, you see why, even without the direct cause of chivalric notions, it's considered worse to kill women.