You "moderate" Muslims tell everyone willing to listen (or brave enough to accept the truth), that Islam is Islam. You then rapid-fire some verses to paint a religion of peace, specifically those passages about ethics of war and value for innocent life. But the subjugation of women, the execution of homosexuals, the notion of all infidels must die? Are they a part of Islam? Yes, according to Muslims who tell us they are following Allah's laws, put forth in the Qur'an. But which version is the truth? The religion of peace or the religion of war?

Let's do a little reading, shall we.

Muslim apologists will tell us that Islam does not permit the killing of "innocents." That's true! Except Islam defines innocents a bit differently than the rest of the world. And when I say "a bit," I mean a lot.

"Nor take life -- which Allaah has made sacred -- except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand retaliation or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life, for he is helped (by the Law)."

Firstly, I love how the Qur'an is like "Don't kill anybody...unless you have good reason, then it's totes okay." Kind of a contrast to the Ten Commandment version by which those silly Christians and Jews abide, which just states: "Thou shalt not kill." Without asterisks or provisos. So what, they still don't bake gay wedding cakes. Monsters.

Secondly, what are these "just causes" Allah allows for?

Based on this verse, it is Islamically unlawful to murder anyone who is innocent of any crime.

It keeps coming back to that word, "innocent." Innocent of crimes as deemed by Allah, then. Here are some crimes in Islam which warrant punishment in accordance with Sharia:

• Drawing the prophet or mocking the prophet:

"Islam does not advocate barbaric attitude towards Non-Muslims. Rather, it teaches its followers to deal with Non-Muslims in a fair and kind manner. These verses about killing of Non-Muslims are only for those Non-Mulsims who fought the prophet, mocked him, put hardships in his way and drove him out of Makkah."

• So anyone who isn't Muslim and has slandered Muhammad, like drawn his picture or said he's a terrorist? Dead.
• Being an infidel (non-Muslim), especially if you're Jewish. Or Christian. Or an Atheist. Also Buddhists. All of the religions which are not Muslim? If the Muslims cannot convert you, it's fine for them to kill you.
• Cheating on your husband, you skanky woman.
• Owning a dog. No, seriously. Fido is not allowed in Ahmed's house.

Now see that's the big defining difference between Islam (yes, even moderate Muslims) and other religions. It requires your submission to its laws, regardless of your religion. Christians have never, historically, ever ever ever, justified murder of non-Christians simply for drawing a picture of Christ. Jews never put a hit out on Charleston Heston for his drawn out performance in the 10 Commandments.

Unlike other religions which still allow for freedom of choice, Islam immediately ascribes guilt to any who simply speak out against Islam. That's the defining difference.

But don't just take it from me (or these Islamic websites which spell it out pretty clearly). Let's look at some Muslim countries from around the world. Not Iran or Iraq, Syria, or Saudi Arabia... let's look at the "moderate" and "modern" countries. Okay? Okay.

Bahrain

Seen as a bastion of moderate Islam and luxury, Bahrain is often touted as a generally wonderful place to live. Except if you're gay, transgender, a woman, or if you have an opinion. But other than that, it's like Disneyland in the desert.

Wikipedia: In 2008, a harsher crackdown on same-sex sexual acts was called for by members of the Al Menbar parliamentary bloc. The government is being asked to conduct an official study into the problem of same-sex sexual acts and how to best combat them.

While the constitution and National Action Charter are seemingly more liberal than neighboring nations, Bahrain’s law in general still falls under the category of Sharia, or Islamic, law. While some Bahraini policies allow women freedoms, many others are based upon religious normalcies that, depending on who is interpreting the Quran of which these laws are commonly derived, could conflict with progression of women’s rights.

Qatar (where clock boy lives)

In Qatar, if you're anything other than Muslim, you're not an innocent. You will be severely persecuted:

Conversion from Islam to another religion constitutes apostasy, an offense which carries capital punishment. Qatar is one of the largest financial supporters of Islamic terrorism; it reportedly supports Islamic rebels in war zones.

From Huffington Post:

Sexual violence and imprisonment are facts of life for many of Qatar's women workers. Largely women from Nepal, India and the Philippines, Qatar's domestic workers face isolation and exploitation in the world's richest country.

Dubai

Hey ladies of the hook-up and single mom culture. Don't move to Dubai:

Cohabitation with a significant other (of the opposite sex), without being married, is a serious crime. Transgressing the cohabitation laws carries a jail sentence of up to three years, followed by deportation, or an immediate deportation. This rule also applies to hotels, although no hotel will likely ask for proof of marriage before a stay.

Giving birth outside of wedlock is also illegal in the UAE, and it is not unheard-of for women who have just had a child to be prosecuted, followed by deportation. Marriage may be considered, before a child is born, as it is the act of birth itself that is considered a crime.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority bills must be paid solely by the person whose name appears on the bill, says Sunil Thacker of Sunil Thacker Associates. Only one person per household can do this unless a married couple’s joint account is registered.

Turkey

If you're going to be gay, that's okay! Just don't do it in Turkey. Or in any of the other countries listed in this post. Or in any country which is Islamic. Just say Nay to the Gay. From the Daily Beast:

Homophobic attitudes start at the very top. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said homosexuality was “a sexual preference” that is “contrary” to Islam, in remarks reported in local media earlier this year. And Minister for Women and Family Affairs Selma Aliye Kavaf described it as “a biological disorder, a disease,” in a 2010 interview with the Hürriyet daily news.

The national Constitution itself does not offer protection against discrimination on grounds of gender identity or sexual orientation. There is, however, little political will to address this, says Andrew Gardner, a Turkey researcher with Amnesty International: “At the highest level ... there is a complete refusal to recognize that there actually are LGBT rights or to implement nondiscrimination provisions in a way that would protect LGBT individuals.”

Indonesia

Hey ladies who want to be equal to men? If you want to work for the national police, you need to have a virginity check. Yes, really. And yes, it's as uncomfortable as it sounds.

Malaysia

Having an opinion in Malaysia and expressing it is a giant no-no. From the Human Rights Watch:

They are creating a culture of fear. If you engage in any talk of public interest, the police may come to your house, you may be arrested, taken to the police station, remanded. Even members of Parliament are treated that way.

—Yap Swee Seng, former executive director of Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Kuala Lumpur, April 14, 2015

Student activist Adam Adli bin Abdul Halim, for example, has been arrested six times for participating in peaceful protests against the government and for calling for others to do the same. In September 2014, he was convicted of sedition for a speech protesting the 2013 general election and sentenced to one year in jail. He is currently on bail pending appeal, and is now facing a new charge of participating in an “unlawful street protest” in February and an investigation for “activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy” for his role in organizing a recent protest.

So in these great, moderate Muslim countries, what do we consistently see? Horrible human rights violations, zero freedom, abuse of gays, women, and anyone who dare speak their mind. Moderate Islam is Islam. Moderate Islam, in trying to simply target non-Muslims for their lack of innocence, creates a worse world ironically enough, for Muslims themselves. Just look at how much better the Muslims in Israel have it than the Muslims in... well anywhere in the Middle East that's not Israel.

Watch the video below to learn more. You're welcome.