The Jakarta Post:
No individuals or organizations — or even old age — can stop Muslim scholar Dawam Rahardjo from spreading the spirit of pluralism.
The figure who struggles for the rights of minorities in the world’s most populous Muslim country continues to dedicate himself to the cause and dares to challenge everyone and everything trying to prevent him from striving to create peace among religions in Indonesia.
Even now, at almost 70 years of age, Dawam is still fighting the battle despite his worsening health.
The founder of the Institute for Religious and Philosophy Studies (LSAF) has refused to succumb to old age and diabetes that have taken their toll on his eyesight and his ability to walk.
“I am still doing some monitoring with LSAF. I am also involved in the filing of a judicial review against the blasphemy law as well as taking part in a movement that defends churches, which have been forcibly closed down, so they can be re-opened again,” Dawam said of his hectic schedule during an interview with The Jakarta Post.
The interview took place at his humble office, one wall dominated by a giant rack stuffed with piles of books, the other side filled with framed articles reminiscing from his heyday as a noted economist and influential human rights activist.
Categories: Asia, Human Rights, Human values, Indonesia
There is hope yet for Indonesia with personalities like this…