HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH possibly the dumbest thing you have ever said.

I cant even be bothered to list all the instances that are the complete polar opposite of that statement, but I'll start with burning someone alive in a metal cage, and let other people pick up the baton.

"It's not the bullet that's got my name on it that concerns me; it's all them other ones flyin' around marked 'To Whom It May Concern.'"

As of 2009 homosexual relationships, acts or behavior are forbidden in approximately thirty-six Islamic countries including Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen, with punishments including anything from a fine up to life imprisonment. Ten of those countries impose the death penalty for homosexuals. They are Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, pakistan, Saudi-Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and some states in Malaysia. As of 1999 in Iran, more than 4,000 lesbians and gays had been executed since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Which in itself is wrong I agree...........But at least they have.unlike said other countries/States.

always a Norwood boy, where ever I live.

Please, do give specific examples of where those practices have occurred in Indonesia and Turkey, the countries I was alluding to?

Ok, maybe I was being a tad hyperbolic in the claim you highlighted, but these are just two examples of free and open Islamic democracies which share many of our moral understandings. In Turkey, which has had severe issues with gender discrimination, the TKP ran an all-women shortlist at the recent elections. Senegal has higher numbers of women in Parliament than Britain. Indonesia have independent human rights and media organisations, something many Christian countries across the world lack. Of course these countries also have many issues: homosexuality is outlawed in Senegal, the death penalty is in practice in Indonesia (but not for apostasy) and Turkey continues to oppress Armenians and Kurds. But these aren't issues specific to Muslim societies in any way shape or form, and actually these major Islamic nations are far more progressive than many of their Christian or secular neighbours.

Reza Aslan is a particularly brilliant writer on this subject, I strongly recommend taking 12 minutes out of your day and listening to this: [Link]

I also find your defence of LGBT groups particularly laughable given that you said in another thread that you oppose same-sex marriage!

If punk ever happened I'd be preaching the law, instead of listenin to Lydon lecture BBC4

So should we just totally ignore the 43 other non-Muslim countries where homosexuality is outlawed, or the fact that the Pope himself recently came out criticising homosexuality? Oh but of course, it's probably 'not directly to do with their religion'!

If punk ever happened I'd be preaching the law, instead of listenin to Lydon lecture BBC4

I think that's a fair point Jamie, but in the context of the argument around whether Islam itself is somehow more inherently backward than other religions and beliefs, Turkey is a fairly good example of progressive Islam, be it on a population scale rather than a governmental one.

If punk ever happened I'd be preaching the law, instead of listenin to Lydon lecture BBC4