During a ceremony held at the ambassadorial residence in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, Belgian Ambassador to Indonesia Stéphane de Loecker presented Julia the Order of the Crown on behalf of Belgium’s King Philippe.

The ambassador said in his remarks that the award was a "highly regarded honorific distinction only rarely attributed to non-Belgian personalities of particular merit".

“Your writing always has a unique flavor, mixing your broad experience and an acute sense of observation and analysis of political and social life over the years with a freedom of thinking that is becoming unusual in these times of gregarian behavior and simplified thinking, dictated by social media,” Loecker said during the ceremony, which was also streamed live.

A columnist at The Jakarta Post, Julia is known for her outspoken stances on sex, politics and religious issues. She has been described as Indonesia's most provocative columnist for her often controversial and unconventional views, which are frequently supported by anecdotes, humor, irony and sarcasm.

“I became a feminist very early on. I continue to be a fervent feminist, yet I also often feel uncomfortable being boxed in as one,” she said in her address.

Read also: Loving God by loving transgender people 

Popular

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Analysis: Indonesia denies normalization with Israel to enter OECD

Citroen to produce electric cars in Indonesia