1984 Inshallah

George Orwell painted a nightmare image of a secular communistic world in his novel 1984, where all actions of the citizens were controlled in minute detail.

The truth is, around the world right now, the countries most guilty of this are not secular socialist regimes, but Islamic nations where the minutae of day to day life is controlled by religious authorities.

A recent example of this has taken place in Somalia:

MOGADISHU, Somalia An Islamic court says women are no longer permitted to swim at a beach in Somalia's capital.

The court's chair says allowing women to socialize with men contradicts Islamic teaching, especially when it comes to swimming.
The ban is the latest in a string of religious regulations that have sparked fears of a Taliban-style regime in Somalia. Islamists have gained power since June. The group has introduced public executions and has publicly lashed drug users. It has also banned movie viewing. (source)

In areas where this takes place, people's freedom to choose grows increasingly curtailed by the rulings of the religious establishment. Women were beaten in Afghanistan because religious police thought they were walking too loudly. Much is done to dehumanize them and create enclaves where those in control can live the life they want to without being reminded of the existance of those they don't want to be interfered with, whether it's women or non-Arabs or whatever the local predjudice is. And it's all done in the name of God.

Behavior like this, based on fear of insulting a capricious and constrictive image of God seems to reflect the image of Man who wants to control his fellow man and excuse the behavior he prefers more than Heaven. 1984 has arrived, Inshallah.