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The #MMDA discussion is a discussion that& #39;s taken place over an incredibly long period of time. But few of us have heard it or even understand it. The @SisterhoodInLK team joined hands with the @mplreforms to give us a little insight on what it all really is. [thread]
1. What exactly is the MMDA? The MMDA is a "family law" that covers marriage, divorce and maintainence. It applies only to Muslims living in Sri Lanka who marry each other. The registrars, Quazis and board, jurors and advisory board all come under the MMDA.
2. The @mplreforms are the Muslim Personal Law Reform Action formed in 2016. A group of women driven by their own personal experiences and stories, the MPLRAG team consists of experienced advocates, lawyers, researches and writers incredibly involved within the community.
3. How did the MMDA come into fruition? @ErmizaTegal explains the process of how the MMDA came into a reality. When Sri Lanka was colonised by the Dutch, the laws were brought in from present day Indonesia as a "code of law" and only enacted by an all male committee in 1951.
4. The Quazi Court System was introduced into Sri Lanka with the idea that it was already practiced. It& #39;s initial message was to protect women from harm and give them more rights within divorce.
5. Why is the MMDA problematic? "The Act legally endorses terrible things happening to people. It adds more challenges to Muslim Sri Lankans as we already are a minority." says journalist, editor and researcher @MaryamAzwer.
6. One of the key problematic issues under the MMDA is the lack of minimum age of marriage. "All children are equal. However, under this law, Muslim children are excluded from it." says @MaryamAzwer
7. cw warning; child marriage, domestic abuse, sexual abuse
Here are just some of the countless grievances gone through Muslim women told to us by writer and activist @SumaiyaPallak.
Here are just some of the countless grievances gone through Muslim women told to us by writer and activist @SumaiyaPallak.
8. @ErmizaTegal explains the differences between the General Act of Marriage and the MMDA. Statutory of rape is not legally recognised for Muslim women married even under the age of 18. Children under 18 are incapable of giving consent. #18WithoutExceptions
9. @hyshyama gives us an explanation on the different kinds of divorce recognised under the MMDA. It is also important to remember Muslim women are allowed to divorce under the grounds of abuse and divorce through mutual consent, something the General Act does not consider.
10. Attorney of Law @ErmizaTegal gave us more insight on domestic violence in Sri Lanka. The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act protects all communities.
11. @hyshyama the co-founder of the @mplreforms talks more about what the Quran and Islam says about women as judges. "Primarily the reason why women cant be judges is because of the difference in opinion when it comes to Islamic jurisprudence."
12. @hyshyama talks more of how Muslim women all over the world have taken roles of leadership, from the beginning of Islamic history.
13. @SumaiyaPallak, writer and activist talks more the of the status and qualifications of Quazis currently in Sri Lanka and what Quazis would look like under the reforms of the MMDA.
14. You might wonder if anyone has tried pushing for change for MMDA reforms and the short answer is — yes. Committees have been set up since the 1970s for legal reforms.
15. What are the challenges faced for presenting and passing reforms? @hyshyama tells us all about the barriers legal groups and communities have faced in their journey for reformation.
16. @MaryamAzwer briefs us on what Muslim activists demand for reformation of the MMDA.
If you are interested in getting involved and learning more about the MMDA, head over to the official @mplreforms website to read more of their work. Elevate activists involved and learn to listen.
Thank you everyone for joining us at the @SisterhoodInLK. The conversation is available on our page if you couldn& #39;t catch us. Thank you @ErmizaTegal, @hyshyama, @MaryamAzwer and @SumaiyaPallak for their wonderful insight and work!
