What are some of the challenges to grow and civil society in democratic practices in the Middle East

The biggest challenge in the Middle East to have a proper civil society and democracy is the religion. The dominant religion in the region is the Islam. The Islamic preachers/imams have very big political influence, so much so that they are actually the ones involved in creating it. The religion is implemented in every aspect of the life of the people, from the political decisions to their private things at home. In lot of ways that reminds of the Medieval Europe when the Church was the one that controlled pretty much everything. From the youngest age, the kids are thought to behave in accordance to the Koran, but the Koran is a book that is not very suitable if practiced in the modern world.