1.  The purpose of an editorial/commentary is to explain, persuade, warn, criticize, exhort, entertain, praise or answer. What do you think is the purpose of Pakistani journalist Khadija Khan’s editorial? Explain your answer.

2. Compare the men and the women's attire in the image at the top of the article. What do you think about the way each group is dressed?

3.  Tone is the attitude a writer takes towards his subject: the tone can be serious, humorous, sarcastic, ironic, inspiring, solemn, objective, cynical, optimistic, critical, enthusiastic…etc.
Which word do you think best describes the tone of the commentary?  Explain your answer.

4. For each of the following assertions made by Khadija Khan, write agree or disagree and explain your answers:

1. These so-called "liberators" of Muslim women actually do enormous harm to women trapped in totalitarian societies, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia. In the name of Islamic law (sharia), these theocracies simply impose anti-woman rules. (para. 13)
2. In her refusal to submit to the demands of Muslim extremists, this brave chess player has shown more about activism for real women's rights in 2017 than everyone else combined. (para. 17)
3. Such laws merely serve the interests Islamist spin-doctors and other extremist Muslims, by advancing their sharia-inspired agendas in the West. (para. 19)
4. The "women's rights" marchers in the West defended wearing the hijab while ignoring the daily abuse of Muslim women, such as honor killings, male guardianship, forced marriages...abuse of women by religious institutions such as Sharia councils, so popular in the UK, and sham practices such as halala. (para. 20)
5. Due to the rigid and never-changing norms of Muslim societies, these women have been denied their basic rights to self-determination and a free life. (para. 21)
6. The world should be supporting the struggle of Iranian protesters in their courage to challenge these extremist Muslims up front. (para. 22)
7. The people of Iran, unlike their counterparts in Egypt and Libya, are trying to get rid of a rigid, totalitarian theocracy and replace it with a democracy. (para. 23)
8. For countless women in [Islamist] societies, freedom still remains a dream. It is high time for the world to start tackling the real issues of women's rights head-on. (para. 24)

5.  What encourages you most about Ms. Khan’s commentary?