Increasingly likely that my dismal optimism was unfounded. They are saying the right things, but it’s easy to read between the lines: women can work in line with the Shariah (as we define it); Shias are free to worship as they wish (because we know they respect the caliphs like we do), etc. It is chilling. I want them to be different this time because I don’t see any way out except civil war and the suffering that will bring, but… I am not optimistic.
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