EJ Prophet
The problem here is not Western Culture - it is intolerrance. If people in your homeland want to kill you because of a goofy haircut & sunglasses - they're the problem, not Westernization. I dont think a few individuals being different from the majority of the population is going to rock the foundation of thier culture. If it does, then the foundation must not have been that strong to begin with.

ob
why is capitalism always the face of modernisation? To you have to drink coa cola and wear nike to have a great life? What is wrong with living a peaceful life where tax is not the objective.

Sonja McCarron
Good grief. Is Western "culture" really worth dying for? If Shakeeb's own people find him so offensive, and his life is truly at risk because of an 80s haircut and some kind of misguided love of our generally shallow, materialistic society, perhaps he should leave move somewhere that's a little more his style. It's understandable that a country that has suffered decades of war and oppression has little time for the fripperies of the Western way of life, and feels that there are more important things for their youth to focus on than pop music and shopping.

Manish, USA
I think change is only permanent when it is slow and steady. Afganisthan is still in its revolutionary stage towards modernization. People will not tolerate sudden change there. It was same thing in USA and Britian couple hundred years ago regarding civil rights and freedom.

RB
What rubbish - there is no such as Western or un-Western culture, just culture. What is so "disturbing and disheartening" in seeing someone identify with something - whether it be Islam, West, the "non-West" - and express themselves as thus? The answers to the BBC's typical anti-Western, anti-American questions are that any balance is up to the individual and no one needs to be influenced by something, if they so choose. How about another question - why do so many Westerners feel ashamed of their culture and feel the need to apologise for it?

Fiona
When people of such an un-Western culture get all Westerned-up it really upsets me. With globalisation rife, races will lose their culture and rituals and I find this disturbing and disheartening. However, I don't think anyone can describe Shakeeb as anything but an incredibly strong person. Faced with so many opponents and his death almost (very sadly) immenent I do think he is somewhat of a hero, standing up against the thought police.