Reflections of a stormy petrel

You see, you think of Muslim marriage laws as being "less restrictive than you would think" is because your cultural background is Christian, and the worst thing that could happen to your ancestors is to be stuck with a criminal or a moron with no way to break with them this side of death. However, the dangers that threaten an Islamic bride are different. You have not been told that the man alone has the right to divorce, and that he can do so at his pleasure, dumping his wife as he pleases. The woman never can, and if she leaves her husband for someone else she can be charged with adultery. And I prefer not to tell you what Shariah law prescribes for women found guilty of adultery. You must bear in mind that there is a natural instinct among Muslims to soften the hard edges of their traditions and understate the ferocity of much of their law, when speaking with others - after all, nobody likes to see someone they are talking with suddenly become shocked, or assume that over-bright insincere attitude that tells you that you have just disgusted them and they are too polite to tell you.