Is it really just extremists? You've essentially just described the public policy of Saudi Arabia and all the Gulf States, who are normally considered mainstream. Women and queer people in Saudi Arabia are treated like shit because of Islam. The Gulf states are more of a mixed bag, but the unpredictability of the persecution is what puts queer people on edge there.

Just look at the deplorable homophobic state actions taken by Qatar during the 2022 World Cup. I don't believe Qata has ever been described as fundamentalist, but the people who run that Gulf state are outspoken, unapologetic, vicious homophobic bigots, and they defend that based on mainstream Islam.

Queer life in Turkey is becoming increasingly repressive, as Turkey becomes more publicly Islamic under the morally depraved leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the controversial figure who is trying to recenter Islam in Turkish politics, contrary to the secular reforms of
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk — which had begun to give women in queer people and equal place in society. Then a committee Islamic leader took over, and all hell broke loose.

I've written stories about gay people in Indonesia, which is considered to be a moderate Islamic nation, who have been convicted of the crime of being gay and then publicly beaten until they bled with rattan canes.

Let's face it, mainstream Islam is fundamentally sexist and homophobic. It's not about fundamentalists; it's about the religion itself.

It's terrible that these extreme things are happening in Afghanistan, and I'm very glad you published this story to bring attention to it.

But I'm not glad to see you trying to claim that it's because of fundamentalism, when Islam itself is fundamentally at fault. The religion is rotting at the core from its disgusting sexism and homophobia.

This needs to be acknowledged and fought against, not covered up.