A ‘primitive’ religion

I applaud Kathleen Parker’s effort to show support for women around the world struggling to pursue those activities that they love [“Running for their lives,” Opinion, Aug. 9]. But I was disappointed when, at the very end of her column, she referred to Islam as a “primitive” religion.

Actually, it is not completely clear that Parker actually believes all of Islam to be “primitive,” but her language (which seems to conflate the Taliban with all of Islam) is dangerously careless in an age when anti-Muslim generalizations tend to run rampant.

Furthermore, there are many women, quite possibly including Tahmina Kohistani, for whom Islam is an important part of life, and who choose to go into public fully covered. It’s really a shame that in our haste to show support for this woman, we find it necessary to completely write off her religion as unworthy of critical and careful examination.

— Adrienne von Wolffersdorff, Seattle