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As a Somali Muslim female, Islam does not oppress me or any other female I know. Islam has liberated women and given them dignity and integrety. Whilst the Western world has driven its women to mutilating themselves in order to beautify themselves for men!Islam has protected women.I wear hijab with pride, I don't have to worry about living upto the Western ideals of beauty which has led to so many suicides.

Yes, there is a lack of females in power in many Muslim countries but not because of oppression but differences in culture and modesty.

Also, there is no such thing as an Islamic State in the world. Many countries which are Muslim like Saudi Arabia are oppressive to women which goes against many Islamic principles. It is not an Islamic state nor a spokesperson for Islam. You cannot blame a religion or any ideology for the ignorance of man. If there is a car accident, you blame the driver not the car.

Furthermore, you did not complete the full quote of the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him), it goes on to say that if you must hit your wife it should be as if though you hit her with a feather i.e a light tap and this should be the very last resort.

Violence against women is not tolerated in Islam, people have always manipulated religion to suit themselves and Islam has an answer for every question.

As far as female mutilations, you know very well that it is a cultural issue, not Islamic and what man would refuse an uncircumcised women? I've never come across this!

Islam does not deny the sexual pleasures of males or females, in fact, pleasing your husband or wife is rewarded by Allah. Why would Islam condone the mutilation of women, thus denying them of this right?

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Worldwide in about 49 countries the "Religion of peace" is waging war. Islam is Jihad (it is an obligation on all muslims as one of the 5 pillars of Islam).
If there is a war anywhere in the world, you can be sure that Islams at the front of it.

Islam is infiltrating the world for it is ordered by mohhamed to subjugate every other religion, begging to come to democratic host countries, then when they are there they demand more and more until they subjugate whole communities like mine.
Their Jihad is to gain the trust of the host nation and slowly strangle it.Islam cannot live in peace with and alongside any other religion or culture, it has to dominate (from the Hadith and koran)...it is the muslims duty.
Muslim immigrants take benefits from the host nation as "spoils of war" they feel fine about taking from the kaffur, but also subjugating him.

There is no love in islam in spite of what muslims like to think...there is only fear of Allah.... how very sad.... if only they could see that they are making the world mistrust them.

They think that they alone have a right to live on the earth...everyone else is an unbeliever just because they do not believe that this allah chap is god...just because they worship their own way. How very sad. How very frightening.

Articles about female genital mutilation are not published in the paper in Texas. Most of the people there don't know that in some countries a man, even if he calls himself a "doctor" can get the death penalty for forcible clitoridectomy or other mutilations.

I doubt if Bashir is a Somali, what is Goth? Please go and study Islam before you hate it more than non-Mulsims. As a Muslim, one is supposed to correct from inside and NOT fight Islam like non-Muslims and by the way no one can fight Islam because Allah SWT promised his protection!!!!!!! just for your information.

Mr. Goth has got his priorities wrong... His article was a little un-professional, mixing his culture with Islam was not the best approach to point out that Islam has held back women for so long.

But I agree a hundred percent with his views that Islam has indeed opressed women and continues to do so.

I am a sixteen year old Bangladeshi girl living in Saudi Arabia, and I tell you, this is a living nightmare! Its a country that enforces women to suffocate themselves under the burkha, women are often not a part of the working population as the country does not provide many jobs for women, driving is a big no no, and all other forms of oppression, name it, and you'll find it in this country.

Muslims should realize that we are not living in pre-historic times, times have changed and it is not wise to stick to a book that obviously did not catch up with the speed of modernisation!
Why must we follow a religion that allows a man to violently abuse his wife? Why must we follow a religion that does not allow a woman to lead a nation? Why must we follow a religion that indirectly treats women as sex-slaves? Isalm allows polygamy, a legitimate face of infediltiy, with the lame excuse that there is an imbalance in the male:female ratio, and thus men must marry multiple times. They go as far as suggesting that men are more sexually active and they need more than one woman to safisfy their sexual passions!
Isalm is the key reason women are opressed in muslim nations!!

Mr. Ghot is lacking ethics of journalism. I thought somebody in his age would have enough idea, different between Religion and Culture! Amazing huh!i would have encouraged him to go back to school, improve profoundly effective ways to report, and write about matters requiring tremendous fairness and sensitivity.

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Is Mr.Goth going to appear anytime soon, or are we going to sit here and keep on floggin the dead horse?

Does he Basir Goth know the difference between Religion and Culture?. If you want to say anything about Islam provide the Quran and Sunnah with tafsir as reference.

Regarding the "fair share of inheritance", In Islam the women gets 50% of what her brother would get. However the women are allowed to use the money for herself while the man has to spend it on the family. In reality the men would in most cases not benefit more then the women when it comes to inheritance.

Women today in Somalia's Capital are FREE for the rape, abuse, robbery , killing, etc thanks to the Islamic Courts. They can go about doing their business without fear, because of the peace and security established by the Islamic Court Union (ICU). ICU has created more jobs for women predominantly those without a spouse. Does this sound like oppressed women?

In addition to that the Islamic Courts work closely with Women organizations, particularly female business networks in Somalia who has benefited a great deal by the ICU hard work and success.

What sort of reality does your writing reflect upon? None at all perhaps?

I would like to end my comments with quotes from Yvonne Ridley

"There are oppressed women in Muslim countries, but I can take you up the side streets of Tyneside and show you oppressed women there.
"Oppression is cultural, it is not Islamic. The Koran makes it crystal clear that women are equal."

One word - Taliban

Sums up most of what I see in Islam regarding the treatment of women. I have a daughter; a child now, but my wife and I agree we will never allow her to be involved with a Muslim until such a day as that religion becomes a lot more tolerant and recognizing of women's rights. And yes, to be fair, we would interfere with her involvement with ANY religion that considered her less than a male, and any man of same religion. Right or wrong, I will die to ensure she is treated as an equal in this world.

Mr Shire,
The first few paragraphs of your comments seem to make sense but in your last paragraph,you are fishing in a muddy pond.
I am assuming you did not understand the meaning of that famous Qoute.I was here in united states and watched that debate live and it is not absolutely
applicable in here.You will be better off if you use your own words so you will not be dancing in a gray area.Comments should not get personal but if you choose to do so,use your own words.

Mr.Goth,please!!!.
The majority of the people in west
are well-informed and well travelled sociaty,and hostess large numbers of muslims in their
home countries.They can tell difference of falsehood and truth.
If, you think,they will buy your
exaggarated mal-informed reports,
you dont know the west,and you were mis-lead.
One blogger were accussing you,
lack of preparation and less knowledge of any subject you try
to convey to the public.He or she
is right and I too seen problem.
For example,(Somali Re-unification of 1960)When two parts of Somalia got their independance they were united by will of their populations.Your argument was,the unification were
unlawfull,unratified.It came through solicitation or co-erricssion you were wrong and ill-studuios.(Mr.Jama Qalibs)answer of your shallow piont of view or distortion of history were matted by masterly facts and accursey of fis by fis.Mr.Qalib stated,it was debated,peblicised,ratified,by
the parliment and united Nations,and the colonial powers,and finally approved by the Somali poeple of both north and south.Mr.Qalib was happy to tell you where to find the records,the UN and Colonial archives,and Somali elders,like Qalib ,because,he was there.

To go back your argument Islam oppress women,once again you wrong
as other bloggers already tell you, either you are lazy guy or functioning idiot,because,you dont
search when you writting piece.
Islam,is the final revealation of ALLAh,other monolithic religions were forwarded to prepreration of the comings of islam in its grand position of to day, and west knows better than you.That is whay they are converting in large numbers.
To enlighten your dark heart.
in the early Islam in(Madina)while the prophet Muhamed (Sala-llahu-alayh-wasalama) was in the helm islamic leadership,Islam retake (Mecca)and its outskirts in the east and in the west close to the Iraq border of to day,and amassed a lot of wealth.Women in Madina sent a word to the prophet(Peace-be-upon-him)to meet and talk to him.the masenger of ALLAH agreed to meet them.
The meeting took place in the prophets(Pbuh)house,good number of women come, and their issue was that they didnt get their share of pie,and demanded it.while they settled the matter and discussing other topics and women were laughing and gigilling some one came to the door and say (Salaama Allaykum)the women reconized the vioce and rushed silent behind
curtain.The prophet(Pbuh)permited
to come in.He was (Omer-Binu-Khadaab)(AS)the companion of the Prophet(PBUM)to Omars surprise women was out of sight and quait.
Omer talk to women "O,Women!are you tring to respect me,more than ,you respect the mesenger ALLAH" .They, replied"Onto you restricter than him" and ,the prophet(PBUM) responded "They are right Ibnu-Khadaab".
To me a women requesting put to their hand in purse is not oppressed.

To pra-phrase,the famous debate of
Loyld Bensen and Dan Quell.
Besens words."I know MISS Hirsi
she is my freind.
She is my country
Women.
I worked with her
in dutch parliment.
She is my clan.
She is my school
girl.
We came from same
town.
Mr.Goth,you are not
Miss.Ayaan Hirsi"

I would like to say some words on what Mr. Bashir Goth, in his article dated 20th December.2006, and others have said on the subject. One should not say any thing about a religion unless he has complete grasp and understanding of the matter. Cultural norms and principles laid down by a religion are two different things. Culture norms are transformed and changed due to political influence, numerical and military strength whereas religious principles are based on the orders of God conveyed to the people through His Messenger who demonstrates the same in practical life.

Now before proceeding further we must define the world Muslim. A Muslim is one who submits himself/herself to the will of God and follows his Messenger of the time. As Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last Messenger of God so his followers are called Muslims. But unfortunately very few submit to the will of God as Islam ordains. However all the Muslim countries, before embracing Islam had their own cultures and traditions some of which certainly are not based on the teachings of Islam. And, therefore, attribution of such acts of the Muslims to Islam is nothing but ignorance about real teachings of Islam. For example mutilation of women is not Islamic teachings but a cultural norm. As for as beating of a woman is concerned, Mr. Goth has quoted it out of context. It is not mandatory but permissible in extra ordinary conditions when a woman is inclined or commits adultery or demonstrates obscenity. This is allowed to avoid divorce and separation which is most undesired though legal. I must say here that Islam is in favour of freedom of women more than any religion or society. Who does not know females were buried alive in their infancy before the advent of Islam. They are even given share in property. Getting education is duty of the women as well as of men. Bread earning and arranging better living for the family is the duty of a male and not of a female. Women can do jobs which suit them and work in the company of males. What the Islam forbids is obscenity as it ultimately destroys the fabric of a family. It is well known a fact that divorce rate in the developed world is dangerously high and the ratio of children born of the unwed couples remained more than 49% in France alone during 2005. Is this is freedom of women? Rather it is their exploitation by male members just for their own amusement. It is true that a man gives love to get sex and a woman gives sex to get love. Who is the loser when it is made easy and legal in the name of freedom. The West and the moderate Muslim (not the Muslims) are propagating against head scarf of women terming it as against freedom of women. Are Mrs. Benazeer Bhotto of Pakistan, Begum Khaida Zia and Husina Wajid of Bangladesh not free women when they have performed as Prime Minister of their respective countries while keeping their heads covered.

There was a post about the Iranian female jourmalist who was raped in Iran this year and fled to USA after putting more than 200,000 $ bail. The Iran government confesticated all her properties.

Ironically postglobal of Washington Post censored the news on this very forum instead of publicising her ordeal.
Why? Why the anti-Israeli posts are not censored on postglobal but facts about Iran's crimes are systematically censored here? What is the bias of postglobal?

Mr. Musa you said "I read few people who wrot Bashir is ignorant about Islam and Muslims, but I bet Bashir knows what he is talking about."

I bet you don't know Bashir let alone what he is talking about. At least google him first before you defend his writing. The guy comfortably inks again that Islam is part of the problem. Do you see any thing he said that supports this claim? And he supposed to know what he is talking about!

I'm sure many western readers will run with Bashir's headlines because that is what will gain him big applause from the neocons and conservative hawks.

Stupid dictatories (who care about their chair more than anything) and the shiekhs in their payrol gave Muslims bad name but Islam has nothing to do with what these sick individuals do. Salam!

Islam is not a problem.It is solution and anyone that practices it as it is will be okay in this world and thereafter.It is not a good thing to distort a religion
for politcal gain.Taking someones' life is strickly forbidden in Islam,let alone your sister or daugher.It is very impotant that we should seperate culture from religion.
Some cultures are evil and barbaric.This has nothing to do with theIslamic religion which advocates peace and forbids violence.

human rights
the very first human right is to let him know the truth,and not to contaminat his heart and mind with falsehood.truth comes from the creator lord of this universe,thru divine revelation that contain none but the truth and justice to humans.islam is divine revelation,not a human culture or civilization that come and go ,live and die.honor enough,pride enough,highness enough,fortunate enough ,for muslim women and men to have access to the truth.not only they have access to the truth but they been advanced in the truth for long time , they are on solid back ground ,that false hood can,not creep nor penetrate in.down grading muslim women to a human culture like liberalism ,secularism,ironism,mangeism,top hierarchyism,same marigeism,and all this absloute trash,is real insult to the honorable muslim women where ever they are.ignorant heads who they suckle and feed on trashy human culture ,need to stop and have access to the truth ,before impurity spread thru their entire system.straight to the land fill.

"Muslim women can only envy their Western sisters rising to the highest political leadership: Angela Merkel, Tarja Halonen, Hillary Clinton, and Segolene Royal."

Presumbly you're so ill-informed you've never heard of Muslim women leaders such as Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Megawata Sukanputri of Indonesia, Tansu Ciller of Turkey or Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh? These are hardly minor Muslim countries - between them they make up 1/2 of the Muslim world. The only country whose leader and head of opposition is a woman is Muslim Bangladesh - and the US has never even had a Female VICE-president!!!

"Muslim women can only envy their Western sisters rising to the highest political leadership: Angela Merkel, Tarja Halonen, Hillary Clinton, and Segolene Royal."

Presumbly you're so ill-informed you've never heard of Muslim women leaders such as Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Megawata Sukanputri of Indonesia, Tansu Ciller of Turkey or Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh? These are hardly minor Muslim countries - between them they make up 1/2 of the Muslim world. The only country whose leader and head of opposition is a woman is Muslim Bangladesh - and the US has never even had a Female VICE-president!!!

sorry I am a let bit off message, but I can't take the lies spewed by clannish demogogues like Mr. Mohamed Hussein. Bashir never run away from a warlord. Warlordism was a Mogadishu phemomena. Mr. Bashir is from the Republic of Somaliland, which took care of its business, after recovering from the destruction your elk, using tax payer money, attacked the civilian popluation with fighter jets, tanks and what have you. Despite all that, we defeated your well-equiped mercenary army and reaquired our independence. All the money spent in that God for saken place, can not build a single civil society structure as basic as a city mayor. Sir, you are totally lost and in a fantasy land. Mogadishu is the place where a lot of the things Bashir is talking about and worse happened and still happening. I don't think you are in your right senses, and that may be, when of the reasons, nothing will ever come out of Mogadishu. Mogadishu for the last 20 years became the center of gimmicks. The last of its magic of gimmicks is the overnight Shieks and people with Arab names, which are so different than the traditional names of the people of Mogadishu. What had happened in Mogadishu can be equated some what to the things that had happened in Nazi Germnay. Thousands of people have massacred by tribal gangs and other nasty criminal syndicates. How come this guy can not talk about the terrible crimes against humanity perpeterated in that place? and just so fast to attack this very genuine topic, which needs to be addressed with an open mind. Can people like Mohamed Hussein objectively talk about women's rights in the so-called Muslim world? When does people like Mohamed can ever address the helpless people butchered, killed and raped inside mosques in Mogadishu? Aren't these people were Muslims? Where was the this guy when these things happened? Comparing the Repblic of Somaliland with a bicameral parliament, a president elected by the people, elected muncipalities,two parliamnetary elections with the gangland of Mogadishu is just preposterous. Can you compare an elected president with genocidal warlords who were massacring people for the last 20 years in Mogadishu? What a travesty? What a hypocrisy? What a lie? Nobody can pacify and bring back civil society to Mogadishu, at a time, when so many skilled people left that place and build their independent countries, and away from a hell on earth called Mogadishu. There are millions of people who moved on and don't even want to remember a place called Mogadishu. This is the grave yard of billions of Tax payer money from the people of the former Somalia. Mr. Bashir is talking about facts and figures and you are living in an illusion and denial. Militaristic Islamo-lords or anybody else can not bring back the irreversably tarnished image of the former capital, of the former country destroyed by people like Mohamed Hussein. What can you expect from overnight Shiekhs? the answer is nothing. When all doors are closed in front of them, they are resorting to new gimmick to deceive their people. All they for is more wars and more violence. If they happen to pacify Mogadishu, they would be very successful. Mogadishu is the worst place, and the bottom of the list of places where human rights are violated. Somebody like Mohamed can not be able to defend the terrible human rights violations, happened in that place. Tell me sir, when, what had happened to the Reer Hamar, Bajun, Somali Bantu, Biomal,Mudalug, Surre, Dir, Jido, Rahanweyn, Sharfan and some many other indigenous Mogadicians will be addressed. For how long you can put these crimes under the rug? Remember If you forgot what you have done to these poeple, they didn't, and will be coming, and will get back at you. Changing your names or attire and clothes can not erase the genocide you perpeterated against them in Mogadishu and other places.

Brother A. Musa,

Bashir wrote "In almost every report and study prepared on the situation of women, Muslim and Arab intellectuals fail to mention Islam as part of the problem."

Your wrote "Bashir Goth hit the nail at head in my few. Mr Goth's arguements are based on facts that are decumented."

In stating above, are you standing by Bashir's assertion that "....Islam is part of the problem"? Facts and documentation?

Before you answer my questions, please keep in mind Imam Abdullah's excellent and relevant advice above "There is an old saying;"don't judge the religion by the actions of the people, judge the actions of the people by the teachings of the religion"

Peace!

I am sick to death of all religious apologists who want to say that their religion has nothing to do with the evils it has produced. Deal with it. The Crucades, the Inquisition, the pogroms were all a product of Christiantiy whether you have your own interpretation or not. The taking of land from Arabs is a product of Judaism. The disembowelling of a teacher of girl students in Afganistan, the jailing of women for not being virgins in Pakistan, the cutting off of sex organs in Somalia, the disenfranchisement of women in Saudi Arablia are all the product of Islam. If you don't like it than prove it. Lets see a pan Islamic movement to stop these things in the name of Allah. If you don't have the courage to do anything but hide behind pathetic defences of the aspects of Islam you personally choose to embrace then you have to admit that you are facilitating the evil and misery.

I've got nothing of value to offer to the argument. I do however want to laugh at ALI, HARGEISA's comment that western women are all lesbians...I mean, seriously, typing that crap in caps like a 3 year old is ridiculous. Mutilating and oppressing women is obviously bad. No argument there.

I've been doing some research about this because I know very little about Islam. I have seen scripture that says girls should be educated as boys, but I haven't seen anything specific that orders mutilation, burkas or honor killings. These appear to be horrific cultural developments that have no basis in Islam. As such, everyone who knows this has a responsibility to put an end to the brutalization of women. These practices make Muslim men look cowardly and ignorant to the rest of the world.

If Islam is a religion of peace, your cultures should reflect that to the world. The West is not perfect, either, and our problems have the same origin as those in Muslim countries - poor understanding of religious scripture which is being twisted by those who would treat women as property. Too many people are ready to kill for books they have not read, and they are being manipulated by people who care less for religion than money and power. I pray we all learn to treat each other kindly and to resolve our differences with diplomacy and respect.

Mohamed Hussein and those who are cheerleadering for him, it will be the saddest day for all Somalis no matter where they are when they are represented by Shiekh Sharif Shiek Ahmed, Sheikh Dahir Aweys, Sheikh Indha cadde, Sheikh Morgan, Sheikh Gani hailing from hell, Sheikh Mohamed Siyad Bare, and the others like them.
As long as one does does, disassociate, and condemn anyone who kills innocent person or abuse civilians one has to ask the judgement of that person.
I read few people who wrot Bashir is ignorant about Islam and Muslims, but I bet Bashir knows what he is talking about.
I do understand the emotoinal posters who see Mr. Goth as someone who is washing the moslim laundary in public; but please, can we frankly, honestly objectively address the problems that our brothers and sisters face daily in many muslim countries?
Few people mentioned the women leaders of Pakistan, Bangaladhesh, and Turkey. No one mentioned how the citizens of these countries in general and women and children in particular suffer oppression. It does not matter who is the head of the sate. What matters is the system. Do the policies of these countries encourage women to be whatever they can be?
The answer is know. Pakistani common man and common woman still suffer and they suffered when Mrs. Bhuto was in charge, is not it?
Bashir Goth is as muslim as Mohamed Hussein Ali, or anyone muslim who posted in here; but he does not like to be blind about the suffering of muslim women in the Islamic countries and he likes to provoke a debate, do you men and women who are too defensive get it? I guess not!

all personal judgements of the columnist in question aside, I do have a question on this issue. Recently legislators in Pakistan moved to amend the Hudood laws, which govern (if I am correct about this), relations between men & women, and complaints of rape versus adultery. Apparently, four men had to be witness to the act of rape, as Mr. Goth mentioned in his article. In the article I read, members of an Islamic political party walked out of parliament in protest to amending these laws..Now, I am not sure if this is true, but if it is, why would this party not favour a more scientific method of determining rape, since, if I am correct, one of the guiding principles of Islam is striving for the truth?

Mohamed Hussein, Mogadishu,
You are right that all Somalis are not like Goth or Hirsi. However, they are the most prominent Somalis who are lionized by the Western media, so people get a lopsided view of Somalis. I am sorry if you feel I insulted all Somalis, that was not my intention. BTW, I hope more and more educated Somalis speak out against FGM in their country.

Karma:

Bashir Goth deserves all the condemnation directed at him but please do not generalise and insult Somalis. I am a Somali and I am the first person who challenged and rejected Goth's ignorance on this forum. He does not speak for Somalia nor does Ayan Hersi. They are both shamed in Somalia. They do not represent Islam or Somalia. That is why David Ignatius and Fareed Zakaria should find writers who represent the views and ideas of the regions they are from rather than selecting parrots who will only create an echo chamber.

Somalis are represented by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed who is the head of the Islamic Courts Union that brought the peace that the United Nations and the US could not. They brought justice for all in Southern Somalia.

Mr. Goth gives example of women in America rising to high political positions, or becoming corporate CEOs, etc. This is a direct result of wealth. Americans are wealthy, and our wealth makes us educated, gives us a abundance of jobs, etc. The abundance of oppurtunity allows women to get jobs and excel. If America was poor, there would be no women's rigts. Men will all get jobs, and women would not because there just isn't enough to go around. In instances of economic desperation and need, men are expected to provide. If one is to look at the social statistics of the very poor in America, one would find that women in that situation are abused, beaten, and subjected to the most vile and groteseque behavior. Their husbands are in and out of jail, and steal their money, and are treat them like dirt. Their husbands never stop and think about women's rights because they are too ignorant and poor to do so.

You want women's right in the islamic world? Start figuring out how to become a wealthier. Then once the money comes, the education comes, and then the attitude against women shifts.

When Islamic societies were the wealthiest in the world, muslim women were relatively the best off.

Now Islamic societies are amongst he poorest, muslim women are relatively the worst off.

This has nothing to do with Islam. I grew up in a traditional household in which my father had the ultimate authority, but at the same time, my mother was respected and loved. She did not need to become a CEO or a diplomatic to succeed in life. Rather she has choosen the path of motherhood. A role that many women all over the world envy.

Poverty and illiteracy is the issue, Not Islam.

Why does Washington Post continue to use "Muslim" columnists who are obviouly Islamophobic, anti-Arab, and are ignorant to boot. Goth is either extremely ignorant and couldn't be bothered to do a google search to look for female Muslim leaders, or knows about them and is deliberately hiding the facts so that he can bash Muslims. Either way, it doesn't look good for the credibility of the Post.

Mr. Goth is again prostituting his Arab/Muslim persona to get accolades and moolah from the West. His assertion that Muslim countries don't have women leaders have already been refuted by many respondants. Here is the complete list:

Bangladesh: Khaleda Zia, Sheikh Hasina Wajed (Current)
Indonesia: Megawati Sukarnoputri
Pakistan : Benazir Bhutto
Turkey: Tansu Ciller

Female President of USA: ?????

Mr. Goth is an extremely dishonest man who conflates his corrupt native country Somalia with every other Muslim country.

The second point of contention is that female circumcision is Islamic. But it is an exclusively African ritual, practiced by Christians, Muslims and animists alike in Africa. Most Muslims in countries outside of Africa have never even heard of female circumcision.

Goth writes:
"Islamists may call this practice un-Islamic from now to eternity, but give me a single one of them who would accept an uncircumcised woman as his bride. Rightly or wrongly, the root cause of the problem goes to the nobleness of virginity that Islam ingrains in the minds of the believers. "

Jeez, why do Islamists in Turkey or Iran accept uncircumcised women as their brides? Maybe they are not as barbaric as their co-religionists in Somalia.

Why doesn't Mr. Goth join his fellow Somalian, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, at the American Enterprise Institute, where they can together plot the invasion of more Muslim countries. An invasion of Somalia is way overdue. But wait, Somalia doesn't have oil, or isn't close to Israel.

Another major mistake article makes is "female genital mutilation". The author fail to realize that female genital mutilation is practized only Muslim countries near Africa. Most Muslim countries don't practice female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation is banned in Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and was Afganistan under teleban. There is no Hadiths or Quranic verse that calls for female genital mutilation. How could the author label female genital mutilation as "Islamic" thing when it is clearly "African" thing since lot of Christians and other tribal people in Africa pracice female genital mutilation. This clearly shows the bias and logical fallacy called "hasty generalization" in the article. "Hasty generalization" is where they take small sample and apply that to the large group. It is like saying, since Hitler is Christian, therefore all Christan hate Jewish and Christian love killing Jewish. See the logical fallacy.

This is pure Islmophobic racist article with 100% propaganda. Let me correct the facts.

How many women ever was the head of state of USA and other European countries? For USA it is none, and for European countries some have none or some have very few.

The fact is Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey and my country Bangladesh all have had Women leader as head of State. As for my country Bangladesh, current prime minister is a women and main opposition leader is also women. And women has been head of state 4 times since 1991. No news article mention is fact, they pretend like this doesn't exist.

Another major mistake article makes is "female genital mutilation". The author fail to realize that female genital mutilation is practized only Muslim countries near Africa. Most Muslim countries don't practice female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation is banned in Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Afganistan under teleban. How could the author label female genital mutilation as "Islamic" thing when it is clearly "African" thing since lot of Christians and other tribal people in Africa pracice female genital mutilation. This clearly shows the bias and logical fallacy called "hasty generalization" in the article. "Hasty generalization" is where they take small sample and apply that to the large group. It is like saying, since Hitler is Christian, therefore all Christan hate Jewish and Christian love killing Jewish. See the logical fallacy.

IT IS STRANGE THAT GOTH-REMINDS OF OF GOTHICS-ALWAYS BRINGS UP ISSUES TO INSULT ISLAM. FIRST, HE ACTS LIKE HE IS FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS BUT HE IS ATTACKING ISLAM, ISLAM IS FROM ALLAH AND ALL THAT IS SANCTIONED IS NOT FROM HUMAN BUT FROM THE CREATOR OF ALL. REALLY, GOTH I HATE YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. MAY ALLAH DESTROY YOU FOR YOUR MALICIOUS, XENOPHOBIC, RACIST AND BIASED ATTACKS.
LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID IN MOGADISHU, LOOK FOR WHAT THEY DID TO THE OPPRESSED AND WHAT THEY DID TO THE MINORITY GROUPS.
WESTERN WOMEN ARE NOT ENJOYING, THEY ARE LESBIANS LEFT BY THEIR MEN WHO BECAME GAYS, HOW MANY LESBIANS ARE IN THE WEST, WHY NOT TALK ABOUT THEM.
CURSED ARE YOU GOTH.

umm excuse me...all major muslim countries have had WOMEN LEADERS not USA
INDONESIA 250 MILLION- WOMEN LEADER
PAKISTAN 160--WOMEN LEADER TWICE
BANGLADESH 145 MILLION--WOMEN LEADER 3-4 TIMES
TURKEY-75 MILLION WOMEN LEADER
INDIA-(150 MILLION MUSLIMS) ALL VOTED FOR WOMEN LEADER
IRANIAN WOMEN HAVE HIGHER COLLEGE RATE THAN MEN AND
800 MILLION OUT OF 1.2 BILLION HAVE BEEN LED BY WOMEN. USA NONE!!!
AFRICA IS POOR, AND ARABIC CULTURE BEFORE ISLAM WAS FAR WORSE THAN NOW

Could it be India/hindu factor behind head of states in Pak, Bangladesh being women? Indonesia is another country to have that honor, but it does not fall under conservative country. Any other example??

There is an old saying;"don't judge the religion by the actions of the people, judge the actions of the people by the teachings of the religion"

Also, know the difference between a Muslim country & an Islamic country.
A Muslim country is a country that has a majority Muslim population.An Islamic country is a country that is governed by Islam: mainly the Qur'an(the Book of ALLAH;the Most High) and the Sunna(traditions of Prophet Muhammed(pbuh). At present, that don't exist. The only Islamic State that exist today is the state of minds & hearts of true sincere Believers who are at least trying to do the right thing. Remember, that in Islam, matters are judged by intentions. PEACE!

Mr. Goth has difficulty in distinguishing between religious teachings and cultural practices. Also, he apparently does not know his history as well. It is so called journalist, like Mr. Goth, who give a bad name to objective journalism and intellectual inquiry.

Like so many so called "Islamic intellectuals" who get their notoriety by knocking Islam, Mr. Goth gets more miles and notice when he tries to bash Islam than do real reporting.

I challenge Mr. Goth to sit down and debate with any so called oppressed Muslim women scholars and see what they have to say about Islam and women's rights. But, alas, I doubt Mr. Goth has the courage or the knowledge to take such a challenge.

Would you blame Catholicism and its teachings for the way some priests acted towards children in their parishes? Why would you continue to blame Islam for what culture has wrought? In these countries there is little employment opportunities, there is little freedom for anyone, let alone women. Islam gave women what western women had to strive for for generations after. In Islam, women were given their rights to marry and divorce, to own land and business, to participate in everyday life as equals to men. It was European colonialism which wreaked havoc on the cultural and religious practices of those in the Middle East and Africa. Many of the practices which are described above are not based on Islam but on culture. Learn to differentiate between the two. As a Muslim woman, I am really and truly fed up with men and those who don't know my religion telling me and others what Islam is like, when all they rehash is the same tired bunch of cultural problems. I will not take away the fact that yes, women in these countries are oppressed and harmed, but it's not due to Islam. I pray for my sisters in these situations daily, and, God willing, they will be able to rise up and reclaim their true standing and are able to live the life I and most Muslim women here in the US get to live everyday. In Islam we are commanded to learn, to read, to reach out and get to know others. When will those of other faiths stop with the fingure pointing and actually ask and try to learn about why these things happen from a Muslim woman?

I am really surprised at how ignorant many people including muslims are about Islam. First, there isn't a true Islamic country in the world today. You have muslim countries and a bunch of dictators running those countries. Second, you talked and commment on rape as though it is something legal in islam. In islam the punishment for rape is death so how can Mr. Goth equate rape with being Islamic.Though I agree with some of the points Mr. Goth made he is grossly foolish to brand them Islamic. It is a catchy phrase for a western reader who is totally ignorant of Islam. Mr. Musa your ignorance of the permissibility of marrying in islam is understood. What ignorant Oil sheiks do please don 't equate it with islam. True, polygamy is permissible in islam as is in Judaism and Christianity. No way in the quran does it say you can marry 77 women. I have never lived in a Muslim country and frankly don't have the desire to anytime soon.Yes, I am a muslim. What annoys me is when people make stupid statements about Islam without knowledge.

Omer and sorwar:

Excellent points. Actually in Bangladesh, for the past decade the Prime Minister (head of government) and the opposition leader were both women but he points to Hillary Clinton, and Segolene Royal who are politicians but neither has led her country. In fact both countries have never elected a woman as the leader. If Mr. Goth cannot do basic research at least he could use "Wikipedia" because his standards are even lower than that.

Hassan Ali of Nairobi, you are adding insult to the injury. Can you address the topic at hand and challenge Mr. Goth's theme that women are denied basic human rights in many parts of the Islamic world by narrow, biased, radical and skewed interpretations of the Koran and Suna?
Can you make your point without calling anyone names or saying one is lieing and was a liar?
Are you denying that through history of Somalia and in many parts of the Islamic countries that women are treated as chattels? Are you denying when a muslim man divorces his wife he keeps the house, whatever resources they had and children and can kick her out?
Are you denying that only men can divorce in many Islamic counties by just telling the woman you are divorced three times and that is the end of the story?
Are you denying that it takes years even decades for a woman to get divorce without the husband's consent?
Are you denying that Muslim men who can afford financially can marry new bride as many times as one wants?
Was not it the story that came out during the first Gulf War hat the Amir of Kuwiet marrieed seventy seven women in his life time?
What rights those seventy seven women had while thier husband was marrying young teen ager every year?
Mr. Hassan Ali of Nairobi, please,do favor for yourself and understand that those of us who left Somalia before hell get loose, one of the few things we gained from the long journey from home and the hardships we encountered is freedom of expression without name calling and trying to shoot the messenger.
Bashir Goth hit the nail at head in my few. Mr Goth's arguements are based on facts that are decumented.
The whole world knows that while most of the other parts of the world are going forward many parts of the Islamic countries are going backward and the people who pay the highest prices are thier citizens in general and women and children in particular.
I will argue many Islamic countries are going backwards are thier citizens are suffering because of misuse and abuse of the Koran and the Suna by ruthless dictators and radical spiritual leaders.

There are amny muslim women who have been in power playing important roles. Muslim women are and were in top positions in Bangladesh, Indoneisa, Pakistan, and Turkey. Women hold important jobs in all muslim countries.

There are events of disgracing women in all societies and countries, which is a global problem, having no lonk with islam. Recently, a few sex workers were murdered in UK. A young girl was kept and sexually assaulted for 8 years by kidmnappers. The girls from former communist block are sold globally just like sex toys. There are events of auctioning girls of east europe.

Does muslim women regret such independence? following the west is no solution, establishing the rights given to muslim women by Islam is the solution.

This is a biased article, how do you account for Benazir Bhutto who was prime minister of Pakistan a predominantly conservative muslim country?

A. Musa is wrong to hide behind the "many people who can not challenge the message but attack the messenger." Actually Mr. Hussein made several arguments rebutting the basis of Goth argument. Also he is challenging the trustworthiness of Mr. Goth, his motivation etc. After all it is important to know if the person lecturing you about morality is himself a pervert or not. Mr. Goth needs to clear all this just as in court if a witness make a statement lawyers can challenge that witness by showing prior habits of lying, exaggerating and misplaced loyalties.

This is a difficult question to address. as there is a fine line between religion and culture as over the years cultural aspects seem to make their way to become part of a religion.I don't believe religion has much to do with the inequality between man and woman as much as culture does. I know for a fact that arabic culture is heavily biased towards men. How many women in arabic countries hold senior positions in major organisations. What is the percentage of women in arab parliaments? Why can't women in Saudi arabia drive a car? why are women FORCED to wear certain clothing? (I have no problems with women CHOOSING to wear certain garments however it should not be mandatory or part of any law.

It is well and good to criticise the article as a 'muslim bashing' article however it is just as important to criticise unjust laws against women and other minority groups even if they are part of the culture/religion

Mo