The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has called on all parties to end\nthe controversy surrounding the edited statement by the 10th and 12th\nVice President, Jusuf Kalla (JK). MUI urged all parties to maintain\nunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cMUI believes that as a national figure with significant\ncontributions to Indonesia\u2019s history of peace, Mr Jusuf Kalla\u2019s\nstatement should be understood in its complete and comprehensive\nhistorical context, rather than as an attempt to revive negative\nsentiments. We view it as important to clarify the context so that\nsociety does not fall into interpretations that deviate from the\noriginal intent,\u201d said the Secretary of the MUI Advisory Board, Zainut\nTauhid Sa\u2019adi, in a written statement to reporters on Monday\n(20\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n
He stated that the nation\u2019s historical journey should be placed as a\nsource of wisdom. He said all parties must draw lessons from every past\nevent.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn maintaining a conducive national atmosphere, MUI calls on all\nelements of society to always prioritise soothing and unifying language.\nOur maturity as a nation is reflected in our ability to turn every\ndynamic into positive energy that strengthens national unity, so that\nevery public utterance becomes a real contribution to peace.<\/p>\n
He urged the public to prioritise good assumptions and clarification\nregarding circulating information. He asked citizens not to be easily\nprovoked.<\/p>\n
\u201cMUI urges the wider public to prioritise husnuzan (good assumptions)\nand cultivate tabayun (clarification) towards every piece of information\nthat circulates. Amid the strong flow of social media information, we\nshould not be easily provoked by fragmented narratives. Let us view\nevery statement through the lens of broader unity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He asked the public to end the controversy over JK\u2019s edited remarks.\nHe said prolonged debate is unproductive.<\/p>\n
\u201cMUI urges all parties, especially community leaders, religious\nfigures, and the wider public, to immediately halt this controversy.\nProlonged debates in the public sphere are deemed unproductive and risk\ntearing apart the fabric of interfaith harmony that we have built\ntogether. Let us close the gaps for incitement and refocus on more\nstrategic national agendas,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Previously, the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) reported\nJK to the Metro Jaya Regional Police regarding alleged religious\nblasphemy after a viral video of his lecture on \u2018dying as a martyr\u2019.\nGAMKI\u2019s report was registered under number LP\/B\/2547\/IV\/2026\/SPKT\/POLDA\nMETRO JAYA, dated 12 April 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe from the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement came today to report\nMr Jusuf Kalla. Our presence also represents around 19 Christian\ninstitutions and community organisations,\u201d said GAMKI General Chairman\nSahat Martin Philip Sinurat to reporters, quoted on Monday (13\/4).<\/p>\n
Sahat conveyed that JK\u2019s lecture on \u2018dying as a martyr\u2019 that went\nviral on social media hurt the feelings of Christians. He said it was\nnot in line with Christian teachings.<\/p>\n
JK\u2019s Explanation<\/p>\n
JK affirmed that he never intended to blaspheme religion regarding\nhis statement in the lecture at Gadjah Mada University (UGM). JK said\nwhat he conveyed was actually aimed at promoting peace, not\ndivision.<\/p>\n
This was stated by JK in a press conference on Jalan Brawijaya,\nKebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Saturday (18\/4). He explained that the\nlecture raised the theme of peace and discussed various conflicts,\nincluding those that occurred in Poso and Ambon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI explained what peace is. Peace is the end of conflict. What is\nconflict? The end of peace. Then for one or two minutes, I discussed\nreligious conflicts. That includes Ambon-Poso,\u201d said JK.<\/p>\n
JK said the part questioned by the public was only a small excerpt\nfrom the overall material. He admitted to only touching on\nreligion-based conflicts for one to two minutes in the lecture.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not talk about religious dogma. I talked about conflict\nevents, how people use religion to wage war,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to JK, many parties felt their actions were justified by\nreligion in the Poso and Ambon conflicts. He said such perceptions then\nexacerbated the conflicts, resulting in thousands of lives lost.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo religious teaching justifies killing each other. That is what I\nconveyed,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mui-calls-for-an-end-to-the-controversy-surrounding-edited-statement-by-jk-1776664252", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }