Sydney Ideas

For our 2016 Chaser lecture we bring you Indonesia’s first female Muslim stand-up comedian and freedom of expression advocate, Sakdiyah Ma’ruf (winner of the 2015 Vaclav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent). In conversation with Julian Morrow from The Chaser, Sakdiyah talks comedy, religion and where to draw the line. MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Sakdiyah Ma‘ruf is a standup comedian based in Jakarta who has become known in her country and around the world as one of the most distinctive voices of Indonesian Muslim women. She was named one of the Laureates of Vaclav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent for her work in comedy, joining various unknowns such as Ai Weiwei, Pussy Riot and Aung San Su Kyi. She holds a Masters Degree in American Studies and does research and academic writing with specific interests in women, identity, minority, comedy, humor, and pop culture. Her work as an interpreter has gained her trust from international organisations such as UNFPA, ICRC (International Committee for Red Cros