[buzzwords]

It always fascinates me to read comments like this in here. Because it shows quite clearly that we all buy into narratives pushed by states. This post says that only winner of democracy in middle east is a fundamentalist religious governments. This is totally untrue. For example Iran, which was way more religious in 1950s managed to establish a secular democracy. It was the foreign intervention that derailed it. The same people who derailed the very democracy then pushed the idea that middle east is not suitable for democracy.

[cutemonster]

In addition to that, @throwaway75 (GP) sounds unaware about eg the US supporting religious dictatorships in Saudi Arabia, Oman and elsewhere, providing the dictators with weapons.

I'd rather look at this as it's the West that perpetuates religious dictatorships, by supporting the dictators in exchange for eg oil.

And that people in general in the middle east want democracy any especially the women want to get to dress however they want (can be both with or without the hijab). But @throwaway75's home country likely gives weapons to the dictators oppressing the women and people.

Human rights (or rather, lack thereof) in Saudi Arabia, a US weapons and military training receiver: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia

That's the West upholding sharia laws

[buzzwords]

Indeed. I have come to the conclusion that any values that people hold, like human rights, religion, etc, etc; will eventually become something that politians will use to build a narrative with.

[cutemonster]

Sometimes it's maybe even good to start with the assumption that if a politician in a large country says that they'll do this and that good thing, because of human rights or religion -- then he's trying to manipulate you