In many Islamic legal and social contexts, women are subject to religious norms that restrict their autonomy and limit their rights. In a number of Muslim-majority countries, women face legal barriers that do not apply to men, including restrictions on movement, employment, dress, and other matters of personal choice.

Religious doctrine and customary practices often place disproportionate burdens on women, particularly around modesty, marriage, and sexuality. In some countries, women have limited access to divorce, property rights, or legal protection from marital violence, and in the most extreme cases face punishment or violence for perceived violations of moral codes. Human rights—including the freedom to speak, believe, and live freely—are universal and should not depend on sex or religious conformity. No woman’s autonomy should be constrained to satisfy religious tradition.