Tutty receives honorary degree

Tutty receives honorary degree

JAKARTA (JP): Former state minister of women's empowerment
Tutty Alawiyah was conferred an honorary doctorate degree on
Islam propagation from the state Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic
Institute (IAIN) on Saturday.

Tutty, who briefly held her ministerial post in 1998, said in
her address to the academics attending the ceremony that a Muslim
was obligated to spread his or her religion.

Propagation, she said, was needed to correct human mistakes,
to remind people of the things they may have forgotten or, even,
to warn reckless people.

Tutty said she viewed the propagation of Islam in the country
as a way to deal with both internal and external problems.
According to her, internal problems concern the lack of vision
among the propagators of Islam, while external problems come from
anti-Muslim groups and modernization, which poses a threat to
Islamic spirit.

She also suggested that scientific theories, particularly
those relating to sociology and psychology, be used in spreading
Islam.

Tutty, who will turn 59 in March, has a number of
international academic awards to her credit, including one from
the Bangkok-based Islamic Institute and Life Time, which honored
her with a membership in the Southern African Muslim Women's
Federation in 1997.

A mother of five, Tutty has published 16 books, mostly on
Islam. She graduated from IAIN in 1978. (amd)