10 Gender-Based Sharia Laws That Would Be Illegal in Any Secular Country
Sharia law is often described as “divinely just” and “eternally relevant.” But when held up to the standards of modern legal systems that value human rights, equality, and due process, many of its rulings — particularly regarding women — are not just unjust, but outright illegal.
This post lays bare 10 gender-based Sharia laws that would violate the laws or constitutions of virtually every secular democracy on earth.
1️⃣ Half Inheritance for Women
π Quran 4:11
“To the male, a portion equal to that of two females.”
π΄ Violation: Gender-based discrimination in property rights.
In secular countries, inheritance laws must treat men and women equally. Sharia’s division by gender violates equal protection clauses in most modern constitutions.
2️⃣ Testimony: Two Women = One Man
π Quran 2:282
“If two men are not available, then a man and two women…”
π΄ Violation: Discrimination in access to justice.
Courts in secular countries must evaluate all testimony equally unless objectively discredited. Sharia’s built-in devaluation of female credibility is legally indefensible.
3️⃣ Child Marriage Allowed
π Sahih Bukhari 5133
Muhammad consummated his marriage with Aisha when she was nine.
π΄ Violation: International child protection laws.
Under UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, marriage below 18 is prohibited. Sharia allows it — following the “Prophetic example” — and many countries (e.g., Iran, Yemen) still permit it.
4️⃣ Wife Beating Permitted
π Quran 4:34
“As for those [wives] you fear rebellion from… beat them.”
π΄ Violation: Domestic violence laws.
In Sharia-based states, men are allowed to beat their wives for disobedience. In secular law, this is domestic abuse — a criminal offense, not a right.
5️⃣ Polygamy for Men Only
π Quran 4:3
“Marry two, three, or four women…”
π΄ Violation: Marital equality laws.
Polygamy is illegal in most secular countries. Even where it’s legal, it cannot be one-sided. Sharia gives men the right to multiple wives, but denies the same to women.
6️⃣ Forced Marriage or Guardianship
π Sharia law: Women need a male wali (guardian) to marry.
π΄ Violation: Autonomy and consent laws.
In Sharia, women often cannot marry without male approval. In secular law, consent is the cornerstone of marriage — and requiring a guardian undermines a woman’s legal agency.
7️⃣ Rape Victims Need Male Witnesses
π Quran 24:4
Accuse not unless four witnesses testify…
π΄ Violation: Victims’ rights and fair trial protections.
Sharia requires four male witnesses for rape — an almost impossible standard. In secular courts, physical evidence, testimony, and forensic data suffice. Under Sharia, rape victims are often jailed for adultery if they cannot “prove it.”
8️⃣ Apostasy = Death (Often Enforced on Women)
π Sahih Bukhari 6922
“Whoever changes his religion — kill him.”
π΄ Violation: Freedom of religion.
In Sharia, leaving Islam — even quietly — is a capital crime. Secular democracies enshrine the right to change belief without fear of death, regardless of gender. Women apostates are beaten, imprisoned, or executed in some countries.
9️⃣ Males Control Divorce (Talaq); Women Must Fight for It
π Quran 2:229, Hadith
π΄ Violation: Equal marital rights.
Men can divorce unilaterally by pronouncing talaq three times. Women must petition a judge, prove grounds, and often forfeit dowry or custody. This imbalance violates gender equity in legal recourse.
π Sex Slavery & Concubinage Permitted
π Quran 4:24, 23:5–6
“…those your right hands possess.”
π΄ Violation: Human trafficking laws.
Sharia allows men to have sex with female captives without marriage — effectively sanctioning rape and sex slavery. This violates every modern law on bodily autonomy and human dignity.
⚖️ Final Summary
These are not fringe rulings.
They are mainstream interpretations of Islamic law, rooted in scripture, and applied in varying degrees in many Muslim-majority countries today.
| Sharia Law | Secular Law Equivalent | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2 women = 1 man in testimony | Equal testimony | π« Illegal |
| Beating wives allowed | Domestic violence laws | π« Illegal |
| Child marriage allowed | Child protection statutes | π« Illegal |
| Rape needs 4 witnesses | Evidence-based trials | π« Illegal |
| Apostasy = death | Freedom of belief | π« Illegal |
Sharia is not a divine justice system.
It is a medieval male-supremacist code cloaked in religious authority — and when exported into modern contexts, it violates the dignity and safety of half the population.
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