We were talking in the last FIF meeting about the abuse and mistreatment of women in the Muslim world. At a debate I attended a few years ago I mentioned a few of Barbara's Walker's complaints and observations about women in the last essay in "Pot Stories and Humanist Essays." Being a fervent feminist Barbara brought out points about Islam that few people know about. A Muslim widow, for instance, even after decades of marriage receives less inheritance than the deceased husband's brothers.

The guy to my right, I'm in the red shirt, is an imam in one of the local mosques. He made an interesting point about misogyny and the abuse of women in general. He answered: How can you say that, in Islamic families the mother is treated like royalty? She isn't allowed to make any sexual or promiscuous displays at any time and is treated with utmost respect. She must dress very modestly and isn't allowed to “exhibit her beauty” in public.

It is western culture that cruelly abuses women. We don't have a problem with prostitution and pornography. Some porno is under duress and part of white slavery, a cruel crime. Some porno is sadistic. You won't find any “strip clubs” in a Muslim community, so don't tell me about the abuse of women.

That's Rev Terry Jones on my left who achieved national notoriety by burning a Koran on the steps of his church. He told me he was the second “most wanted man” in all Islam after Salmon Rushdie. He always wore an ankle holster and gun so I made sure I didn't accidentally kick him under the table. Ironically, I liked the guy.

[amazon.com]