lying in Islam vs. Christianity

From Mindy Belz in World, an interesting and powerful observation about Islam...

When Mahmoud Ahmadinejad makes hash out of reality, he isn't only perfecting one of the wiles of a dictator. He's practicing his religion.

WikiIslam defines taqiyya as "sanctified hypocrisy." That's generous. At least a half dozen verses of the Quran instruct Muslims to practice deception, or to lie, when it serves the purposes of Islam. Taqiyya means "guard," as in guarding oneself against unbelievers, which can include lying to them or deceiving them. "We smile in the face of some people although our hearts curse them," according to authority Abu Al-Darda. In one passage (Sura 16: 106) Allah allows Muslims to go so far as to deny their faith when under "compulsion," as long their heart remains "firm in Faith."

The practice is so deeply embedded in Arab culture and the Muslim world that one has to wonder how Western leaders can negotiate with leaders like Ahmadinejad, steeped in taqiyya....

I'm not sure how far to take this-- for example, does it apply to cultural Muslims?-- but it's quite sobering.

I thought also about how Christianity has biblical examples where lying is condoned or even praised. Lying as a character trait-- as a lifestyle-- is frequently condemned. But lying as an exception is ok. That said, it's interesting that there is no biblical injunction which commands one to lie.