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Prominent Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra dies at 67
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Prominent Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra. (dewanpers.or.id/-)
A
zyumardi Azra, a prominent Muslim scholar who played a leading role in modernizing higher Islamic education in Indonesia and whose global influence as a promoter of interfaith dialogue earned him the prestigious honorary title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire, died at a Malaysian hospital on Sunday. He was 67.
Azyumardi, who had recently been elected chair of the Press Council, was hospitalized after experiencing a heart attack on a flight to Kuala Lumpur. He was scheduled to deliver a speech at an international conference on Islamic civilization in Southeast Asia.
Agung Dharmajaya, his deputy at the Press Council, confirmed his passing at 12:30 p.m. Malaysian time on Sunday.
Over the years, Azyumardi had gained a reputation not just as a Muslim intellectual championing the idea of moderate Islam but also for his contribution to Indonesian journalism and his incisive views on Islam and democracy.
His passing left a void for many Indonesians who were inspired by his democratic vision of Islam, which was rooted in both his Islamic and Western education.
In a statement posted to his social media accounts, former Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin paid his respects by lauding Azyumardi as the “guardian of Islamic moderation”.
“He’s one of the few scholars seen as an authoritative figure when it comes to Islam in Southeast Asia. [...] He constantly pioneered, promoted and fought for Islamic moderation both in Indonesia and on the international stage,” he said.
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