going by how much one hears about them, they presumably exert quite a bit of influence..however, one also then must wonder about the level of acceptance they have from the mainstream..you still hear of attacks in the US/UK, societies which are well on the way to fully accepting it..it will never be fully legalized in the Middle East but they will look the other way for the most part as they do now..and while i do have a strong opinion on the practice itself; i rather not judge the person practicing it..live and let live works for me