Waiting For Reform: Sri Lankan Muslim Women Fight For Their Rights

Following decades of Muslim women’s groups and grassroots activists raising awareness around and fighting for reforms to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA), a report outlining necessary reforms to the legislation was recently handed in to and remains in process with the Ministry of Justice.

The #MMDA, a law enacted in 1951, has long been a topic of contention between different Muslim groups and legislative bodies with varying interests. Key criticisms of the Act centre around its discrimination against Muslim women and lack of protective measures in place for Muslim children — in particular, the lack of a minimum age of marriage and the prevention of Muslim women from signing their own marriage documents.

In the light of the recent report submission, many belonging to Sri Lankan Muslim communties are hopeful that they won’t have to wait much longer to secure their rights.