In the example your link pointed to, you are talking about primitive tribal practices in Afghanistan, a place that is not Arab, and practicing an extremist fundamentalism even most Muslims find barbaric.

First of all, who cares if they are not Arab? Why is that important when we are discussing Islam? As for most muslims finding Afghanistan's conservative islam barbaric, here are some raw numbers country by country of muslims support for sharia law. (interestingly, PEW was unable to poll in the Gulf states. Imagine that?)

I never said all muslims are extremists. There are countries like Turkey which have a vast majority of moderate muslims. And yes Afghanistan is the most conservative. But large numbers of muslims in the middle east and south asia think apostasy should be punished by death.

Huge percentages of muslims think of women as second class citizens

Here's the entire PEW poll. There are some results to support your views here. There are large majorities who oppose suicide bombings and support democratic freedoms. But the latter is inconsistent with strong support for sharia law.

The Koran is much like the Bible, with artful cherry-picking you can prove anything you want with it. An example, many conservative Muslims insist women should be veiled. But nowhere in the Koran does it say that, what it does say is that men AND women should dress modestly.

“Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because men spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those among you who fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them.” Sura 4:34

“…Women shall with justice have rights similar to those exercised against them, although men have a status above women. God is mighty and wise.” Sura 2:228

Islam is a collection of bad ideas, but so are all monotheistic religions.

I couldn't agree more. And since conservative Islam TODAY is the equivalent to Dark Ages Christianity, don't modern secular progressives like ourselves have a responsibility to condemn such backward thinking?