Mohamad Guntur Romli was born in Situbondo, East Java.  He is an alumnus of Pondok Pesantren al-Amien Prenduan, Sumenep, Madura and continued his studies in the Ushuludin Department, of the Akidah-Filsafat Program, at al-Azhar University, Cairo from 1998 until 2004.  From 2005-2007, Guntur became editor at the Jaringan Islam Liberal (JIL) (Liberal Islam Network), Jakarta and moderator for the program Kongkow Bareng Gus Dur—a weekly discussion program at KBR68H Jakarta from 2005 until 2009.  His published books include Dari Jihad Menuju Ijtihad (2003) and Ustadz, Saya Sudah di Surga (2007). The book Menyongsong yang Lain, Membela Pluralisme (2005), published by the Liberal Islam Network in 2005, is his translation of Qabûlul al-Âkhar by the Coptic Egyptian writer Milad Hanna.  Another book by Guntur is Muslim Feminis: Polemik Kemunduran dan Kebangkitan Islam (2010). As an activist and writer he has been invited to speak at the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2008 in Bali; New Generation Seminar 2009—East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii; and WordStorm, the Festival of Australasian Writing 2010, Darwin, Australia. Guntur is the curator for discussion and public lecture programs at Komunitas Salihara.

email: guntur@salihara.org