I think Jeanne raises a good point here. I can't really see Indonesia and Malaysia snuggling up together in some pan-Islamic caliphate, not in the current climate anyway.

Jeanne - i'd love to see that happening, really! But, can you find one condom that will fit?

Maybe a demitasse would fit their heads like sombreros? Peabrained!

Maybe some H.T. members should put a condom on their head to avoid contaminating other people with their stupidity. I am waiting with interest to know the name of the future head of this Caliphate. I can't imagine Indonesian people bowing in front of a Malaysian leader or vice versa.

You say 200 female demonstrators urged the government to close down brothels and ban condoms, which they said encouraged “free sex and unhealthy behavior.” It is your husbands that visit these places. It is a source of income for police and bureaucrats. Wake up silly fools.

Thanks Simon P. Love it when a Monty Python reference makes print!

I think that the Catholic church, worldwide, would have to take the global HIV spreader award . They have condemned millions in Africa to an early grave with their every sperm is sacred policy and claims that condom use actually increases the likelihood of contacting the disease. I'm not saying that abstinence doesn't work...it does of course. But so do condoms. And seeing as human beings are genetically programmed to enjoy and desire sex I would say that that wee Casper the Ghost has a vital place in the world.

They want condoms to be banned but let their husbands to have multiple wives, which means increased exposure to STD, including AIDS! Are these people brain dead or simply brainwashed?

Peter,

thank you for the link - a very informative reading.

Of course - as usual - certain groups still got it all completely backwards and are deliberately twisting and misinterpret facts to stir unrest and get their interests covered. Also Iran, which is governed by Sharia Law has a huge problem with the raise of HIV.

Stigmatizing minorities as homosexuals or prostitutes (here again should be rather looked into why so many women have to turn into prostitution as last resort to have their daily essentials of life) is not the solution, but only pointing dirty fingers into the wrong direction. A proper sexual education in schools would be part of a solution and I am sure if certain measurements from Western countries, populated by "Infidels" would find acceptance and could be implemented, rather than looking into backward medieval solutions would be another step into the right direction. But that again would mean acceptance that not all is perfect in Sharia law, so it will never be implemented and thousands more will be infected and die as long followers are there to believe the words of this "leaders" as the only acceptable solution!

And don't be surprised that thousands are NOT even aware they have this deadly disease.

Might I suggest that the misinformed souls who believe that the implementation of Sharia and or a ban on condoms, is the solution to dealing with HIV/Aids, read an article by Islam Online, ‘AIDS.. Hidden Crisis In Arab, Islamic Countries’. It can be found at http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2003-12/01/article08.shtml

Please also note within the article a quote from Elizabeth Pisani, an epidemiologist with Aksi Stop AIDS, an AIDS prevention and care group, that Indonesia has one of the fastest growing epidemics in the World.

Religious self interest, blind ignorance, deliberate misinformation and a high handed moral approach, have only added to the spread of Aids across many areas of the World.

Scapegoating prostitutes, drug users and homosexuals as the cause of immorality just wont rub. Its the usual ploy of the intolerant and the ignorant. And I suggest, hypocritical.

I recently asked an Indonesian friend: How sexually active are Indonesian teenagers and students? He replied: "Just as sexually active as kids anywhere else in the world." "So, for all the Muslim thing, these kids are still having sex?" "Yep, being Muslim doesn't stop them."

I notice that generally sex is not openly discussed in Indonesian society, and there is virtually no sex education in schools.

Ignorance breeds disease. Scapegoating others is a way certain people avoid confronting reality. Usually there own tendencies to be 'immoral'.

If you want to decrease AIDS in this country, decrease poverty and ignorance. Pious blathering from manipulated goody-goody students wont help.