Accused of Blasphemy, JK Insists He Only Spoke of Peace in Lecture at UGM

Jakarta, VIVA - Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President, Jusuf Kalla, has explained that he only spoke about peace during his lecture at the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) Mosque in Ramadan 1447 Hijriah. He emphasised that he did not commit religious blasphemy.

“The event at UGM was a lecture during the fasting month, as is done in mosques everywhere. I was invited and came because the theme was peace. Specifically, the theme was about steps towards peace,” said JK, his familiar nickname, quoted on Sunday, 19 April 2026.

JK also explained that in the lecture, he discussed peace as the end of a conflict.

Thus, JK said he discussed several conflicts in the world, including 15 conflicts in Indonesia.

“There are conflicts due to ideology like in Madiun, conflicts due to territory like in East Timor, conflicts due to economy like in Aceh. I explained them one by one,” he said.

In addition, JK said he discussed conflicts in Indonesia that occurred due to religion, such as in Maluku and Poso.

When discussing this, JK explained that both conflicting parties had concepts related to dying for defending religion. The concept in Islam is known as syahid, while in Christianity it is called martyr.

“I was in a mosque and the congregation did not understand martyr. So, I said, yes, because they are almost the same, syahid and martyr are almost the same. Only the way is different,” he stated.

“So, it’s just a term, but because I was in a mosque, I used the word syahid. Because if I used the word martyr, the congregation wouldn’t know,” he continued.

Jusuf Kalla also explained that the lecture was delivered so that future national leaders would not use religion as a source of conflict.

“Don’t ever use religion for conflict, don’t! You future leaders, all of you future leaders,” he said.

Previously, Jusuf Kalla gave a lecture at the UGM Mosque on 5 March 2026, as part of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah. The lecture was titled Indonesia’s Diplomatic Strategy in Mitigating the Potential Escalation of Multipolar Regional Wars.

However, the lecture went viral in mid-April 2026.

JK was even reported by the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) to the Metro Jaya Police over the lecture, particularly regarding the statement on dying syahid. The GAMKI Central Executive Board reported JK on 12 April 2026. (Ant)