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UK honors Indonesian Islamic scholar for interfaith efforts
NU Online · Selasa, 28 September 2010 | 22:15 WIB
Jakarta, NU Online
The United Kingdom on Tuesday named leading Indonesian Islamic scholar Azyumardi Azra as an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire for advancing interfaith understanding throughout the globe.
“Every year Her Majesty the Queen graciously grants honorary awards to people from all walks of life around the world who have made a significant difference in their community,” British Ambassador Martin Hatfull said.r />
“We can see the energy for his continued travels and seminars about interfaith relationships in Indonesia, Europe and every part of the world.”
Hatfull presented Azyumardi the award at the ambassador’s residence in Jakarta.
Azyumardi, 55, a professor of history at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta, was the first Indonesian to receive the CBE, one of the highest honors granted by Britain.
As a leading Islamic scholar and a former co-chair of the UK-Indonesia Islamic Advisory Group, Azyumardi had demonstrated his dedication to promoting religious harmony over many years, Hatfull said.
“The better that we can understand each other’s culture, each other’s religion and community, the more likely we can work and live together peacefully,” he said.
The group was established in 2006 after then British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s visit to Indonesia.
Azyumardi said he felt very honored for receiving the award and said his responsibility would grow as a consequence.
“It is indeed a great honor for me and definitely this award is not only for me but also for Indonesia,” Azyumardi said as quoted by the Jakarta Globe.
“My work does not become lighter after this as there are a lot of things need to be done to strengthen interfaith relationships in our country and everywhere in the world.”
He said people should be able to accelerate interfaith cooperation in a world that was becoming ever more connected.
“We still have hard tasks in promoting interfaith dialogues and democracy as it has not touched all levels of community, especially at the grassroots level,” he said.
The country has an Interreligious Community Forum (FKUB) gathering leaders of the various faiths, but Azyumardi said it needed refinement as it now only tended to work reactively.
He said Indonesia needed a system that would bring all people in the country to understand interfaith dialogue.
“We need instruction for trainers so that they can educate the grassroots on the essence of interfaith relationships,” he said.
He also stressed that development of the economy should also proceed at the same time as education.
“Interreligious clashes need to be resolved, but our economy also needs improvement,” he said.
He said religious disputes in most cases were driven by political issues but exacerbated by economic problems. (dar)
The United Kingdom on Tuesday named leading Indonesian Islamic scholar Azyumardi Azra as an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire for advancing interfaith understanding throughout the globe.
“Every year Her Majesty the Queen graciously grants honorary awards to people from all walks of life around the world who have made a significant difference in their community,” British Ambassador Martin Hatfull said.
“We can see the energy for his continued travels and seminars about interfaith relationships in Indonesia, Europe and every part of the world.”
Hatfull presented Azyumardi the award at the ambassador’s residence in Jakarta.
Azyumardi, 55, a professor of history at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta, was the first Indonesian to receive the CBE, one of the highest honors granted by Britain.
As a leading Islamic scholar and a former co-chair of the UK-Indonesia Islamic Advisory Group, Azyumardi had demonstrated his dedication to promoting religious harmony over many years, Hatfull said.
“The better that we can understand each other’s culture, each other’s religion and community, the more likely we can work and live together peacefully,” he said.
The group was established in 2006 after then British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s visit to Indonesia.
Azyumardi said he felt very honored for receiving the award and said his responsibility would grow as a consequence.
“It is indeed a great honor for me and definitely this award is not only for me but also for Indonesia,” Azyumardi said as quoted by the Jakarta Globe.
“My work does not become lighter after this as there are a lot of things need to be done to strengthen interfaith relationships in our country and everywhere in the world.”
He said people should be able to accelerate interfaith cooperation in a world that was becoming ever more connected.
“We still have hard tasks in promoting interfaith dialogues and democracy as it has not touched all levels of community, especially at the grassroots level,” he said.
The country has an Interreligious Community Forum (FKUB) gathering leaders of the various faiths, but Azyumardi said it needed refinement as it now only tended to work reactively.
He said Indonesia needed a system that would bring all people in the country to understand interfaith dialogue.
“We need instruction for trainers so that they can educate the grassroots on the essence of interfaith relationships,” he said.
He also stressed that development of the economy should also proceed at the same time as education.
“Interreligious clashes need to be resolved, but our economy also needs improvement,” he said.
He said religious disputes in most cases were driven by political issues but exacerbated by economic problems. (dar)
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