how do u say that there is merit in islam? there is no scope for dissent in islam. that's why they issue fatwas against all dissenting muslims to kill them. like rushdie and taslima. muslims do not have any scope of change with changing times to keep pace with new scientific discoveries, because u must follow what was written in koran thousands of years ago. islam does not allow equal rights to women, because of which they have to cover whole of their body with burkas. almost all muslim countries do not follow democracy.
