I'm more of an Islama-not-a-fan, and no, I haven't read the Quran.

I live in a Sunni Islamic country. Most people are friendly enough, but I find it hard to stomach the social mind control, and cultural pressures - especially as applied to women. There's some awful slut-shaming going on. If girls/women don't wear hijab, they are considered sluts. WTF? And even if they were slutty, what's it to all these uptight men and elder women? Get over yourselves, guys.

It's really difficult for me to retain my equanimity wrt to the religious culture here. But I do. Ultimately, the women technically have a choice. And for women who honestly want to wear hijab, by all means, please do. However, I have a hard time believing that every single one of them would choose hijab if they weren't pressured into it. Before the Iranian revolution in 1979, hijab was rare; only super-old fuddy-duddies wore it. Now everyone does. Yet, few people, beyond me, and a few other westerners, seem to question why.

Oh - and they circumcise their dear, poor boys at age 7 and 8. Circumcision is barbaric enough. But at 7 or 8 years old? That's sadistic.

That said, it's not violent here, well, at least for everyone who isn'ta 7-8 year old Muslim boy. Sure, there's some burglary, and violent crime. But no more than you'd encounter in any society, as far as I can tell. And people are genuinely kind - all around, well, except to the 7-8 year old boys obviously.

I've read maybe two pages of the Quran. Lost interest almost immediately. It was pretty dry stuff. But yeah, I don't need to read the Quran to have opinions about aspects of the culture tied to the religion. I can see it with my own eyes.

I could go on - e.g. with how Muslim refugees are treated (badly). But I'll stop there. Taxes are low and they treat me nicely enough. It's just hard to witness some of the cultural stuff that is such blatant heavy-handed social control.

I realize I didn't answer your question. But I blathered on none-the-less. Thanks a lot.