Chronology of the Controversy over JK's Lecture at UGM Leading to Police Report
Vice President of Indonesia’s 10th and 12th administrations, Jusuf Kalla (JK), has come under scrutiny following his lecture at the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) Mosque, which resulted in a police report by the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI).
JK was reported to the police for allegedly blaspheming Christian teachings through his lecture titled ‘Indonesia’s Diplomatic Strategy in Mitigating the Potential Escalation of Regional Multipolar Wars’.
Recently, this polemic has expanded to involve other issues, including his statements on President Joko Widodo’s diploma. Here is the sequence of events from JK’s lecture at UGM to the police report by GAMKI:
- Lecture on 5 March at UGM touches on religious conflicts
JK delivered a lecture titled Indonesia’s Diplomatic Strategy in Mitigating the Potential Escalation of Regional Multipolar Wars at the University of Gadjah Mada Mosque on 5 March 2026.
In his lecture, JK alluded to the Poso and Ambon conflicts, stating that both conflicting parties often believed that killing was justified as ‘martyrdom’.
‘There are also (conflicts) because of religion… both Muslims and Christians believe that dying or killing someone is martyrdom,’ said JK.
He also emphasised that no religion justifies murder.
‘Show me, in Islam and Christianity, any teaching that says killing an innocent person leads to heaven. There is none,’ he stated.
- 8 April: JK drawn into Jokowi diploma polemic
Entering April, JK became embroiled in the polemic over alleged fake diplomas of Indonesia’s 7th President Joko Widodo. He assessed that the polemic was disturbing society and causing division.
‘It disturbs the public, wastes time, harms Mr Jokowi, harms everyone,’ said JK on Wednesday (8/4).
JK even suggested that the polemic could be stopped if the original diploma was shown.
‘Actually, the issue is simple, because I believe Mr Jokowi has an original diploma. We should just stop this matter by having Mr Jokowi show his original diploma,’ he said.
- 12 April: JK’s camp denies blasphemy allegations
JK’s lecture at the UGM mosque then went viral on social media, showing only parts of the speech. This viral clip led to accusations that JK had blasphemed religion.
JK’s spokesperson, Husain Abdullah, denied the blasphemy allegations regarding the lecture. He stated that the circulating video clip had lost its context.
‘The accusation is the result of context cutting. We firmly deny that accusation,’ said Husain when confirmed via written message on Sunday (12/4) evening.
He emphasised that JK’s statement was actually intended to clarify that no religion justifies violence.
- 13 April: Campus urges public to view full context
The managers of the UGM Mosque YouTube channel also urged the public to watch the lecture in full.
‘Dear congregation, we earnestly request that you watch the video in full, not just the circulating clips. Often, incomplete excerpts can cause misunderstandings because the context of the discussion is not properly conveyed,’ wrote the admin in the pinned comment starting Monday (13/4).
- 13 April: GAMKI reports JK to police
The Central Board of the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI), along with several organisations, reported JK to the police.
GAMKI General Chairman Sahat Sinurat stated that JK’s remarks were seen as offensive to Christian teachings and caused a stir.
‘With this, we, consisting of various Christian institutions and civil society organisations, will report Mr Jusuf Kalla to the Indonesian Police,’ said GAMKI Central Board General Chairman Sahat Sinurat in his statement.
He emphasised that Christian teachings never justify killing as a path to heaven.
- 14 April: Similar reports emerge from North Sumatra
Several organisations under the North Sumatra Civil Society Alliance also reported JK to the North Sumatra Police Headquarters.
A representative of the alliance, Bishop Dikson Panjaitan, assessed that JK’s statement had blasphemed Christian teachings.
‘Mr Jusuf Kalla’s statement is truly blasphemous,’ he said.
- 15 April: Government pushes for resolution through dialogue
Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai encouraged resolving the polemic through dialogue, not legal channels.
‘As Human Rights Minister, I do not agree with the police report against Mr JK. I firmly reject it. Frankly, there is no benefit to it either,’ said Pigai as quoted by Antara on Wednesday (15/4).
- 17 April: JK’s family requests no mass actions
JK’s family, through Subhan Djaya Mappaturung, urged the public not to hold protest actions.
‘Once again, we emphasise that the public should not be provoked and should not join calls or invitations to protests that link to defending or supporting Mr Jusuf Kalla,’ he said on Friday (17/4).
The family also asked the public not to be provoked and to maintain stability amid the developing polemic.