http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/01/30/maarif-seeking-2014-awardee.html
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Thu, January 30 2014, 7:19 AM
Pro-pluralism organization MAARIF Institute has begun its search for leaders committed to democracy, human rights and pluralism, to be bestowed 2014 MAARIF awards.
MAARIF Institute program director Abdullah Darraz said the selection of this year’s awardees would be extraordinary because of the upcoming legislative and presidential elections.
“Corruption and sectarianism that defy pluralism have exacerbated Indonesia’s situation today, particularly given the involvement of political elites. The MAARIF Award aims to help inject hope and optimism,” he said in a press release on Wednesday.
The institute said it was looking at various social, civil and religious organizations and figures that “fight for pluralism, human rights and have substantial democratic achievement”.
“This nation suffers from ‘leadership drought’,” Ahmad Syafii Maarif, the founder of the institute, said as quoted in the release.
The judges for this year’s awards are Andy F. Noya, a veteran journalist and TV presenter; Clara Joewono, a senior member of the MAARIF Institute and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); Amin Abdullah, a professor at Yogyakarta’s Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University; Maria Hartiningsih, a veteran journalist and gender activist; and TGH Hasanain Juaini, a pluralism defender and 2008 awardee.
Selection for candidates will include a search for potential nominees, administrative selections, field investigation and judges’ assessments, according to the release. Queries about nominations can posted at maarifinstitute.org/maarifaward or emailed to