This only reinforces the ignorance of the government there....they restricted many different religions and told people that if they were not of muslim faith...they had to leave their homes and their money and assets...they also make their women wear sheets that cover them from head to toe in 100 degree weather.....the women are also married based on what their parents say...Can you imagine your mom or dad picking out your wife or husband, that you do not know for the rest of your life?
You say: "it suggests a theocratic (Perry,Palin, puffstash) type effort is not real popular much anywhere .. "
It may not be popular much anywhere except in Israel, the zealot right wing party nuts that bang their heads on the magic wall. Netanyahu likes the theocrats very much.