Frank Turek, a Christian apologist, has drawn attention to the harsh realities of Sharia law as practiced in Iran, contrasting them sharply with Western expectations of freedom. In a recent video, Turek pointed out that under this system, there are no freedoms that Westerners would recognize. He noted that the first woman to serve in Iran’s cabinet was executed by firing squad when Ayatollah Khomeini came to power. According to Turek, Sharia law in Iran restricts women from leaving their homes without a husband’s permission.
He said women cannot leave the house unless accompanied by a male relative. Turek also described a woman’s marital obligations under this interpretation of Sharia law. He stated that a woman must obey her husband in all matters or risk losing her right to clothing, housing, and food. The speaker added that men in Iran may take multiple wives, some as young as 13.
He also claimed that a man is permitted to physically discipline his wife for disobedience, citing a reference to Quran, Sura 4. Turek further explained that women do not have the right to divorce their husbands. Men, however, hold the exclusive right to divorce and can do so without the wife’s knowledge, consent, or a formal proceeding. According to Turek, only two male witnesses need to hear the husband’s announcement for the divorce to take effect.
Following the divorce, children automatically come under the custody of the father. Turek used these points to emphasize a broader message about the value of women. He argued that in Christ, women are not property but are image bearers of God, equal in dignity, value, and worth.
The video serves as a commentary on the differences between the treatment of women under Sharia law in Iran and the principles Turek attributes to the gospel.
