[baldfat]

Yes the urban Islamic countries were very modernized. Yes women were educated. If you look to early Muslim culture you would see tolerance for non-Muslims in Jerusalem and other important areas that they conquered.

This new conservative form of Islamic State is a reaction to that modern movement. They have re-defined their scriptures and history to become who they are today. They break the Koran all the time (I had to read it twice in Graduate school). They really have twisted their scriptures and put more on traditions which they have mostly invented.

> I don't believe this is part of Afgan culture at all anyway

You have to be careful with blanket statements. Looks like people have found examples of this type of things and we can see it here in the United States as part of a sub-culture sadly as well as other cultures around the world.

Ethic part of it all is we should be protecting children.

P.S. This is Pediatric Cancer Awareness month. Children have been getting 4% of Federal Cancer Research Funding and American Cancer Society gives 1 penny for each dollar you donate to pediatric cancer. This is why there have been THREE new Chemotherapy drugs introduced in the last 20 years. Children don't always get a big helping hand.