The Talibangelists of Palinistan

I was watching an interesting debate the other night on BBC about Europe failing its Islamic population. The debate centred on freedom of speech and women rights, as expected. That made me think, once again, about religion and personal freedoms.

What about what just happened in Nigeria? It seems that hundreds of Christians, including many women and children, were killed in ethnic violence near the city of Josin Nigeria during the weekend. The latest attacks by Muslims are said to have been reprisals for the January killings by Christians. The circle of violence continues.

We all know that many Islamic countries are not known for their respect to individual freedoms. They always provide us with sad and crazy stories. Take, for instance, the Pakistani Christian couple which was sentenced to 25 years in jail because they allegedly touched the Qu’ran with dirty hands. Apparently, their sentence is based on the blasphemy law which is the hardest tool for religious oppression in Pakistan.

What about the new controversy in Malaysia between the Christians and the Muslims over usage of Allah for God’s name. Apparently, there are riots by some Muslims and attacks on Christian churches over a recent court ruling allowing Christians to call their God ‘Allah.’  It seems that Muslims believe only Muslims have the exclusive right to call God ‘Allah.’ If God exists, do you actually think that he gives a fak about what people call him?

Of course, any references to Islamic religious bigotry would not be complete without mentioning Saudi Arabia, which is known for the freedoms it provides to women! Indeed, where else on a planet, can a woman enjoy the freedom of being  sentenced to 300 lashes and one and a half years in prison because she filed harassment complaints without being accompanied by a male guardian? Obviously, women in Saudi Arabia have fewer rights than dogs.

But don’t worry, because you are not alone, Saudi Arabia.  Your best-est friend in the whole world is always willing to follow suit. Not only are you exporting your oil to them but, it seems, that you have managed to export your religious bigotry and hatred towards women; or perhaps religious fanaticism is truly a universal trait which transcends borders. I am sure that, by now, you know the friend to whom I refer: None other than the ol’ US of A, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Home of the brave, indeed, especially after Utah has proposed a law that would potentially subject women who suffer a miscarriage to possible criminal prosecution and life imprisonment. Did you have a miscarriage because of slipping on ice or skiing? Then you can be found guilty of an ‘intentional, knowing or reckless act’ if you suffer a miscarriage.

I would not expect anything else from the land of the Mormons. After all, not only they believe that Jesus existed but he moved to N. America for several years to teach the natives. I really wonder what they are on. Unfortunately, though, religious bigotry against women in the US is not isolated to a single state. It has no boundaries.