Well, rather than starting another thread, I will add to this thread with the following story.
This takes place in Sudan. I don't know if Sudan is technically the Middle East or Africa, but Sudan is a Muslim country that follows Islamic Sharia law.
A British teacher is facing 40 lashes and prison time, for allowing her students (children) to choose the name of their class Teddy bear. The children chose the name "Mohammed", most likely because they were raised Muslim and lets face it...that is probably the name they have heard more than any other name in their lives so far.
The woman has been arrested and faces a trial for violating Sharia laws that forbid anyone to "mock" the Koran or its prophet.
I am absolutely fucking astonished that they are prosecuting this woman for what can only be fairly classified as a misunderstanding with NO intended mockery or disrespect.
At the beginning of her trial:
About 600 Islamic demonstrators piled out of mosques, chanting: "By soul, by blood, I will fight for the Prophet Mohammed." Some of the protesters demanded the teacher's execution, according to The Associated Press.
The agency reports that some chanted: "No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad."
Sudan protesters: Execute teacher - CNN.com
So, not only do these Sudanese people not know their own law (her offense is not a capital offense) but this is exactly the kind of insane barbarism that seems to be permeating all of Islamic culture (at least the part we are exposed to here in the US).
Wow.