muslim democratic credentials

Submitted by the Grand Infidel of Kafiristan (Australia), Jan 11, 2010 at 22:07

mr Soetero writes:

"How many women become US President already? Answer is Zero. From Moslem world you can list: PM of Pakistan :Benazir Buttho, President of Bangladesh: Khalida Zia, President of Indonesia: Megawati Soekarnoputri. "

USA has not had a woman president - yet. Of course other Western states have had or do so now. Iceland - Johanna Siguroardottir and Vigdís Finnbogadottir , Germany - Angela Merkel, Ireland - Mary Robinson, Britain - Dame Margaret Thatcher, Switzerland - Ruth Dreifuss , Argentina - Isabel Martínez de Peron and even India has had Indira Ghandi. There are many, many others. So I don't know exactly what point you are trying to prove. The muslim people you have mentioned are all latecomers to the female heads of state fold.. And obviously in Benazir Buttho's case - she wasn't popular with some other muslims.

As you well know - Muslims have not excelled in any sort of democratic institutions - ever. Indeed the first parliament is an Icelandic innovation.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".