Religion isn't the problem itself.
It only becomes a problem when the extremists
twist their religion to conform with their own personal views and agenda.
Most religions have extremists and most of the extremists are as bad as each other professing hate and intolerance towards others who don't follow them.
For example the christian
"
right to life" anti-abortion movement has a few followers
(Nutjobs.) that think nothing of targeting doctors and staff who work there with violence, or blow-up/burn down a clinic that performs abortions.
Unfortunately with Islam in the middle east, regional culture plays a large part in just how extreme the extremists are.
Lets face it, much of the middle east is a war zone and growing up with injustice, murder and cruelty are a day to day fact of life there for many.
(I'm not making excuses for them, or condoning their actions at all, just playing the devil's advocate and pointing out a fact.)
Cheers,
Dave