German envoy joins MMDA debate, backs ‘one country, one law’

• Says Govt., P’ment must give leadership and decide, rather than being held hostage by unelected pressure groups or interest groups 

German Ambassador Jörn Rohde is backing the call for ‘one country, one law’ in the on-going debate surrounding the reform of the Muslim Marriages and Divorce Act (MMDA).

He said that post-Easter Sunday attacks, during discussions on the security situation with the diplomatic community, there was reference by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to the need for ‘one country, one law’ including a uniform minimum marriage age, and the reforms to the MMDA have elicited much debate in the media.  

“Whilst I respect healthy debate and every religious community or the clergy should have their opinion, it is important for the elected representatives of the people to give leadership and enact the much-needed reforms,” Rohde told the Daily FT.

“In a democracy, it is the Legislature and the Government which represents the majority of the elected representatives of the people that must decide, than being held hostage by certain interest groups or unelected pressure groups. This is the most important thing to remember,” he added. 

According to him, in the 21st century society, equal rights are important and the Sri Lankan Constitution provides for the same. Citing an example, he said many decades ago when the European countries reformed their divorce laws or relaxed abortion legislations, if they had listened to religious institutions such as the Catholic Church, the countries wouldn’t have succeeded.

Though the MMDA reforms have taken centre stage, especially after the Easter Sunday attacks, the Ambassador noted that the issue had been under discussion for over a decade. “Of course events highlight the necessities, and the renewed debate is a consequence of that, but the subject matter is nothing new,” he said adding that there has been pressure from the Muslim community, especially women, for reforming the MMDA. 

“Events sometimes help push things faster and make desired legislation possible. Take for an example the fresh discussion in the USA for strengthening of gun laws, after two back-to-back incidents in Texas and Ohio, which saw 30 people killed by lone gunmen. However, the need for stricter gun laws has been in discussion for decades,” the German Ambassador added.