I am not brainwashed,and how do you know a) that i am western b) i am not a muslim myself? You make an some terrible assumptions then base your own bias against them.You make some good points about Sikhs and Jews etc,but that doesn't mean that the position of Muslim in islamic society is a myth perpetrated by the west,that is just a ridiculous suggestion.

Only yesterday radio 5 talked to some iraqi men about the forth coming elections,and to a man they didn't want 'their women' to vote.

The position of women in their society is religously based,it hasn't by created by the west,its a fact,and for some reason it is you who has been brain washed.

It doesn't help your cause either when the media report that an 'unfaithful' wife in Saudi will be stoned to death,only 2 yrs ago.That story wasn't made up,many human rights organisations combined to save her life.