In Iran, revolution replaced a secular regime with an Islamic state.

Tanner notes that secular regimes and leaders have used violence to promote their own agendas.

On many occasions, he openly stated that the secular regime in Turkey was under threat but never gave any specific reasons.

In the years since, opposition to secular regimes has remained central to Islamist thinking.

In this competition for legitimacy, secular regimes had no alternative to offer.

Finally, does Nigeria have a secular, democratic regime or a theocracy?

A democratic regime, a secular regime or a theocracy?

Through Al Azhar, the secular regime throws the occasional bone to the religious opposition - most often on issues of women and the family.

But its ideology and goals are religious, unlike Mr. Hussein's secular regime.

Think of it as two islands: one island is occupied by the secular autocratic regimes and the business class around them.