Dr Fatima Mukaddam completed her PhD, insigni cum laude, at the University of Lucerne, Switzerland. Her doctoral research, now published as a monograph by Springer, examines legal pluralism and Muslim women’s access to marital rights and justice. Trained as a political scientist with an interdisciplinary orientation, she brings a Social Sciences perspective to the DISSECT project, drawing on law, gender studies, and sociology.
Of South African–Pakistani descent and from a Muslim background, Dr Mukaddam is committed to addressing the societal issues shaping the communities she belongs to. This commitment is evident throughout her scholarship: her Master’s research investigated perceptions of domestic violence among Muslims in Johannesburg, an issue of growing global urgency, and she is currently revisiting this work for publication. Her Bachelor’s thesis examined the institution of marriage and the social pressures within Muslim Indian communities in Johannesburg, reflecting her longstanding engagement with questions of Muslim women, identity, gender, and community.
Central to her research is a sustained focus on Muslim women’s lived experiences and their negotiation of rights across pluri-legal and social contexts. Her broader interests include human rights, integration, identity and diversity, feminism, and gender studies. Alongside her research, Dr Mukaddam has taught Political Studies at university level and remains deeply committed to pedagogy. She views teaching as a reciprocal process rooted in dialogue and critical engagement, and her ability to communicate complex ideas clearly continues to shape her academic practice. She looks forward to expanding her research portfolio beyond the DISSECT project and contributing further to scholarship and public discourse on these issues.
