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)