The level of lack of wisdom and reckless behaviour in dealing with oppressed people probably has pushed this country lower on the scale of morality for no reason. They either give more than what they should or take more than they should. They for no reason acts in a very unbalanced way. They established a democracy in Iraq but through their behaviour gave opportunity to some Ssunny groups to revolt and mess things up despite getting equal voting right and reasonable constitutional protection like everybody else. First, that was bad in Iraq probably even for many Ssunny because you empowered the bad over the good and thereby did not give the opportunity for the good to lead in that group. Then because it itself gave the bad elements an opportunity to  commit crimes and mess things up, this country apparently scared itself away from giving those same deserved rights in Syria to whoever in the Ssunny wants them for him/herself and everybody else.        

For those officials refusing to register - or whatever you call it-marriage for same sex couples for religious reasons I am not sure if there is a problem here. Does their position require them to apply that kiss in every ceremony and register the relationship as religiously recognized marriage? Or is it that what they are legally required to do is just register that relationship as being recognized as marriage in the eyes of the law? Because if it is just the later then how is that understood as violating any of the religions I know about? It is just like a contract. So what is in this contract in violation of any religion? Is it things like the capability to file taxes jointly? Or is it just the word "marriage" that is confusing people here?