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Muslim scholar awarded top human-rights prize
Jakarta Globe - February 1, 2014
Dawam, now a rector at the Universitas Proklamasi 45 in Yogyakarta, was given the award because of his record of defending the rights of minorities, especially religious minorities such as Ahmadi Muslims, Shiites and Christians, according to Todung Mulya Lubis, head of the Yap Thiam Hien foundation.
"The issue of [human rights] issue is being overlooked amid buzz of this year's election," Todung said, adding that the plight of minorities was not on the agenda of most of Indonesia's political establishment. "Why would they defend the minority?" he said. "What's in it for them?"
In his acceptance speech, Dawan said he had found advocating for minority group to have been a lonely battle much of the time, and said he had frequently been subject to negative campaigning. "With all those insults, I felt lonely. I felt alone," the 73-year-old said.
Born in Solo, Central Java, Dawam was a central figure in the country's second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, until he was kicked out of the in 2006 for a strong push for pluralism. "With this award, I don't feel lonely anymore defending the minorities," Dawam said.
The Yap Thiam Hien Award is named after a Chinese-Indonesian human rights activist. It is awarded to an individual or organization each year. Tempo Magazine was named last year's winner.
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