ABOUT #LETHERSIGN
Under the Sri Lankan Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA), Muslim women are prevented from signing their own marriage documents – the Marriage Declaration Form and the Marriage Register. #LetHerSign is a Muslim-women led campaign advocating for the right of Sri Lankan Muslim women to have full autonomy to enter into marriage in her own capacity and free will.
It also seeks to highlight the ways in which we continue to be treated as unequal citizens under the MMDA in every aspect of marriage, beginning from being unable to sign some of the most important documents of our lives, to unfair and unjust divorce procedures. This campaign is emerging as a result of growing frustration, among younger generations of Muslim women and men, for the delay and broken promises of reform of the MMDA.
We demand that basic Islamic and fundamental rights of physical consent to marriage, full autonomy and decision-making in marriage and equality in family law are guaranteed through urgent comprehensive reform of the MMDA this year!
This campaign is initiated by the Muslim Personal Law Reform Action Group (MPLRAG).
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Not being able to sign one’s marriage document represents the absurd and heightened level of discrimination Sri Lankan Muslim women face today. The delay to correct this injustice is inexcusable. It has resulted in many Muslim women being coerced or tricked into marriage and “given away” in marriage, even without their knowledge, as evidenced by documented lived experiences. They are denied the choice in who they marry, when they marry and have zero autonomy over their own life decisions. This contributes to failed marriage relationships, unequal power in and lack of respect within marriage relationships, and increased violence in marriages.
Adherents of the Hanafi jurisprudence and the Bohra sect have a long practice of permitting Muslim women who identify as Hanafi or Bohra to sign a token marriage document — but the official form itself has no space providing for the bride to sign. Even when signing is practiced, it often is based on the discretion of the marriage registrar. The majority of Sri Lankan Muslim women, however, do not have the choice to sign and are not even required to be physically present at their own nikah (marriage) ceremony.
WHY NOW?
Sri Lankan Muslim women have been waiting for reform for the past 60 years and will not be discriminated against any further! From time to time, commitments have been made by consecutive Cabinets of Ministers, Ministers of Justice and Muslim Members of Parliament on MMDA reform, but nothing is known to the public about when this reform is coming or if it is coming at all. The delay in reforms has resulted in lived hardships, lived violence and lived discrimination, which has further increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This reform is not about vague notions of community rights or political intimidation of minorities in Sri Lanka. It is about equality and justice for Muslim women and the wellbeing of Muslim families.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
#LetHerSign encourages all Sri Lankan citizens to raise their voices against this long-standing injustice and discrimination against Muslim women, and to demand for MMDA reform without further delay!
Here are some ways you can get involved:
BE AN ADVOCATE!
- Write your own views and experiences, create art work and share it on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok or other platforms with the hashtag #LetHerSign. Some prompts:
- How do you feel about the fact that Muslim women cannot sign their own marriage document?
- Why is it important for Muslim women to sign?
- What is the change that is needed?
If you are willing, do share your personal stories or experiences of being unable to or wanting to sign your own marriage documents. Your voices and experiences matter! DM us via any of our socials.
BE AN AMPLIFIER!
- Share, amplify and discuss key campaign messages on the #LetHerSign campaign by Muslim women, as well as peers and friends, advocating for MMDA reform.
- If you are a journalist, writer or artist – write blog posts, media articles, social media posts about the campaign and highlight the need for #MMDAreforms.
- Initiate and facilitate conversations in your peer and family circles — or even local mosques, religious spaces — on the campaign and why it is necessary for Muslim women to stop being prevented from signing their own marriage documents.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION!
Facebook: @mplreformslk
Twitter: @mplreforms
Email: mplreforms@gmail.com