DENNY JA: A MODERATE MUSLIM VOICE ESPOUSING HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE WORLD’S LARGEST MUSLIM COUNTRY
– A Concise Biography
“Poetry needs to return to the midst of the public arena” (Denny JA)
On the basis of a review of more than a hundred works, comprising literature, non-fiction books, films, animated videos, and speeches, as well as his involvement in progressive social movements, Denny JA stands out as the voice of human rights in the world’s largest Muslim country, Indonesia.
Denny JA is also the voice of moderate Muslims, who are now becoming more active. Through hundreds of his works, fiction and non-fiction, speeches, as well as his social involvement, he affirms the importance of an inclusive Islam.
From Denny’s perspective, Islamic civilization reached its pinnacle or Golden Age in the 8-12 centuries CE, precisely when Islam benefited from a synergistic relationship with other great civilizations. The Golden Age of Islam coincided with and was facilitated by the translation into Arabic and Persian of classical Greek philosophical texts, as well as important books from China and India.
This was reflected in the views of modern literary figures who gathered recently at a festschrift that commemorated Denny JA’s 40 years of authorship. In 2021, several books expressing the perspective of prominent figures will be published, as well as critical journals, that celebrate Denny JA’s four decades of work as a published author.
Since the publication in 2012 of his seminal literary work, In the Name of Love, Denny JA has spoken out against intolerance and discrimination. The five long essay poems in this anthology employ historically authentic fictional stories to articulate five examples of social discrimination that have actually occurred in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
Denny expressed not only the intricacies of intolerance with respect to religion, race, and gender, but he also bravely delved into discrimination against LGBT.
The five long works in Denny JA’s first essay poem collection, In the Name of Love, have been adapted as short films by Indonesian cinematographer Hanung Brahmantyo. These five films are often used by Indonesian cultural institutions as an introduction to class discussions that focus on diversity.
Denny JA did not hesitate to raise issues that are still very sensitive in his country, most specifically in an essay poem that describes the love story of two homosexual men. The Muslim-majority population of Indonesia is generally opposed to any public expression of LGBT relationships.
Denny wrote another essay poem, Waiting for Sodom and Gomorrah in Amsterdam, regarding a young lesbian, named Rosa. This essay poem, which can be viewed on Youtube as an animated video, tells the story of a devout Muslim family, whose beloved daughter grows up to be a lesbian.
The father is a religious leader. Full of anger, the father expels his daughter from the family. Rosa ultimately leaves Indonesia and seeks refuge in the hospitable environment of Amsterdam, ironically recapitulating the path of her exiled uncle, who was forced to leave Indonesia in 1965 due to his affiliation with Lekra, the cultural organization of Indonesia’s outlawed communist party.
Rosa’s mother is very worried. She is aware that Amsterdam is full of LGBT people. Based on her religious beliefs, she believes that Amsterdam will be destroyed by God in a manner similar to the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The mother asks her daughter to return to Indonesia fearing that Amsterdam will be obliterated. Rosa simply replies that the Netherlands is actually one of the happiest countries in the world, supported by evidence from the annual World Happiness Index. Thus, she dismisses and tries to allay her mother’s concerns that Amsterdam will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah.
In addition, Denny JA has also proven adept in creating a series of 30 videos, each concerning the teachings of an important Sufi figure or Islamic thinker. These videos were broadcast on his Youtube channel for 30 consecutive days during the Ramadan fasting month.
Denny JA’s inspirational tales of prominent Sufis and Islamic thinkers impart an strong impression of Muslims who are spiritual, yet moderate and inclusive.