I think that this discussion is a typical interpretation of islam as it is practiced in the middle east. The hatred of and abuse of women flows from the religious beliefs. The fact that Arab culture reinforces this hatred, too, doesn't mean that the religion isn't also to blame.
There are certainly misogynistic Christian sects, for instances the Mormons. And ultra-orthodox jews are no better in this respect, either.
The PC crowd, though, prevents us from talking about the religion being at the root cause of the problem and in so doing, they seal the fate of these women.
