
Escaping Islam: From Sharia Law to Freedom
From Let's Talk Local by Sarah Zubiate Bennett
May 8, 2026 · 1h 49m · Episode 79
About this episode
Sarah Zubiate Bennett interviews individuals who escaped Islamic rule and are now living as Christians in America.
In the last episode of Let’s Talk Local , Sam Westrop shared his deep knowledge of Islam and Islamism, breaking down the sects, beliefs, and cultural framework behind the conversation. In this episode, Sarah continues that discussion by sitting down with individuals who have lived under Islamic rule and are now building new lives as Christians in America. Sheri Shamsi fled Iran in 2017 after realizing she could not raise her children under Sharia Law. Abteen Vaziri was born in Iran and lived around the world before eventually settling in Dallas, where he now works as an attorney and is active in politics. Aleksey Yusupov, who was born to a Christian mother, Muslim father, and Jewish grandmother, shares a powerful story of survival that includes witnessing executions for faith and narrowly escaping one himself. These are not secondhand perspectives. These are lived experiences. You heard the facts in the last episode. Now you will hear the stories behind them.
People in this episode
Host: Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Guests: Sheri Shamsi, Abteen Vaziri, Aleksey Yusupov
Topics covered
- Islam
- Sharia Law
- Christianity
- Personal Stories
- Immigration
- Cultural Experiences
Keywords
- Islam
- Sharia Law
- Christianity
- Iran
- Immigration
- Personal Stories
- Cultural Framework
- Survival
- Faith
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Iran, America, Dallas
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