As The Zayed Award Jury, Megawasti Proposed By The Grand Imam Of Al Azhar

The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, and the Zayed Award Jury pose together after meeting Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican, Rome, Monday (18/12/2023). (ANTARA-Monang Sinaga)

JAKARTA - The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, visited Roma, Italy as one of the judges of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. Megawati was invited as a judge thanks to the suggestion of Grand Imam Al Azhar, Grand Syaikh Ahmed Tayyeb.

This was said by the Indonesian Ambassador to Tunisia, Zuhairi Misrawi, quoting the statement of the Secretary General Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, Mohamed Abdelsalam.

"The Great Imam of Al Azhar views Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputeri as a figure who has contributed greatly in fighting for women, leading a large country with a majority Muslim population. Therefore, Grand Imam Al Azhar appointed Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputeri to represent Muslims at the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity this year," Zuhairi said in a written statement, Wednesday, December 20.

Zuhairi said he accompanied Megawati during the process of the Zayed Award Jury meeting.

He explained that the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity was an initiative of Pope Francis and Grand Imam Al Azhar, Grand Syaikh Ahmed Tayyeb.

In addition to judging from December 16-19 in Rome, Megawati and the jury held a meeting with Pope Francis in order to convey the judging and nomination process for the recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.

"In addition to meeting with Pope Francis, Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputeri and the jury are also planned to hold a meeting with Grand Imam Al Azhar, Grand Syaikh Ahmed Tayeb as one of the initiators of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity," he said.

He added that before the Zayed Award Jury meeting in Rome, the judges had held their last online meeting on November 24.

During the meeting or when offline in Rome, he and the Chairman of the PDIP DPP for Foreign Affairs Ahmad Basarah represented Megawati, who accompanied Megawati in various meetings. He said a number of meetings in Rome were the last held by the Zayed Jury.

The Zayed Award peak is planned to be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on February 4, 2024, which will be held to appreciate individuals and entities that have contributed greatly to the progress of human civilization and coexisted peacefully.

The Zayed Award was first held in 2019 after the signing of a historic human brotherhood document by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Al Azhar Ahmed Al Tayeb in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The winner of the Zayed Award will receive a prize worth US $ 1 million.