Siti Musdah Mulia was born in 1958 in Bone South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Her father was a local Islamic leader and her mother was the first girl from the village to graduate from an Islamic school. After finishing secondary school, she continued her studies, eventually ending up at Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University, where she graduated in 1997, becoming the first woman to graduate from the school with a PhD in Islamic Thought. Following her graduation, Siti worked as a Senior Advisor to the Minister of Religious Affairs, challenging the legal code in Indonesia. Specifically, she recommended prohibiting polygamy and child marriage, and allowing interfaith marriage. Her recommendations, which were put in the final draft, sparked violent protests, which forced the drop of the amendments. In addition to her government work, Siti has authored a number of texts on Islamic Law and Islamic reform including Islam Criticizes Polygamy, Islam and the Inspiration of Gender Equality, and The Reformist Muslimah’s Encyclopedia: Essence of Ideas for Reinterpretation and Action. Currently she lectures on Islamic Political Thought at her alma mater and serves as a chairperson for the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace. Her work has earned her a number of accolades, including the 2007 International Women of Courage Award from the US government and the Yap Thiiam Hien Human Rights Award in 2008.