About
Susan Rutten is Professor of Islamic Family Law in a European Context at the Faculty of Law, Maastricht University, where she is affiliated with the Department of Privaatrecht. She is an active legal scholar focusing on the intersection of Islamic family law and European legal systems, particularly in the Netherlands.
Research Interests: Her work centers on Islamic family law, legal pluralism, international private law (IPR), marriage and divorce recognition, child custody, religious upbringing, and the enforceability of Islamic marital agreements such as the mahr (bride price). She explores how secular legal systems accommodate or conflict with non-state religious marriages, especially among Muslim communities.
Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on real-world legal challenges, including judicial treatment of Islamic divorce and dower, international child abduction, bigamy, and cultural conflicts in family law. She frequently contributes case notes and legal commentaries, bridging academic analysis with practical jurisprudence.
Professional Affiliations and External Roles:
- Chair, RIMO Expert Group on Parentage and International Surrogacy Arrangements, Hague Conference on Private International Law
- Member, Working Group on Islamic Law, International Law Association
- Substitute Judge (Raadsheer-plaatsvervanger), Family Sector, Court of Appeal 's-Hertogenbosch
- Legal Author, SDU Uitgevers and Wolters Kluwer
- Trainer/Instructor, Studiecentrum Rechtspleging (SSR) and NCOI Holding BV
- Member, State Commission on Private International Law, Ministry of Security and Justice
She actively contributes to legal education, policy, and judicial practice beyond academia, reinforcing her role as a key expert in Islamic and international family law in the Netherlands.
