Simple question to the governing bodies of Swat; is this Islam? Does Islam teaches us to lash females in front of a crowd? Please don't exploit Islam in this way We are giving opportunity to the western world to call us cruel. If we accept this, they would be right in saying we are a barbaric people. Why are we giving them a chance to call us that? We are giving the wrong image of Islam to the world. Please don't spoil the image of Islam by barbaric acts committed in the name of Islam. It is going to ruin us, not anyone else. -ASMA AHSAN, Islamabad, via e-mail, April 3.