Following GAMKI, North Sumatra Alliance Files Police Report Against JK Over Alleged Religious Blasphemy
Following GAMKI, a coalition of organisations under the North Sumatra Civil Society Alliance has reported Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President, Jusuf Kalla (JK), to the North Sumatra Regional Police regarding allegations of religious blasphemy.
The report was received and registered under number LP/B/579/IV/SPKT/POLDA SUMATERA UTARA on 14 April 2026.
A representative of the alliance, who is also the Chairman of the Synod of the Indonesian Christ Warrior Church (GLKRI), Bishop Dikson Panjaitan, stated that the report was filed because they believe JK committed blasphemy against Christianity.
This relates to JK’s statements during a sermon at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Mosque in March 2026, which discussed the Poso and Ambon conflicts involving Christians and Muslims.
The Bishop stated that killing is not a teaching embraced by Christians. This is contrary to the teachings in the Bible.
“Mr Jusuf Kalla’s statement is truly blasphemous. Because it touches on the substance of the holy scripture itself. Because Christian teachings are characterised by the doctrine of love and compassion. In contrast, Christianity teaches to love one’s enemies, love your enemies,” he said to reporters on Wednesday (15/4).
Therefore, according to the Bishop, JK’s statements deeply hurt the feelings of Christians. Moreover, Christian adherents do not view Muslims as enemies.
“Especially since he (JK) said Christians kill Islam, whereas Islam is not an enemy, honestly, generally Christians have never considered Islam as an enemy. Even if some might think so, it deeply hurts the feelings of Christians worldwide, not just in Indonesia,” he explained.
Furthermore, the Bishop emphasised that the report from the North Sumatra Civil Society Alliance is not related to any particular party. Including organisations in Jakarta that previously reported JK.
“There is no connection or our step supporting a particular organisation or related to that. What we report is purely our own initiative, but we are grateful that our friends from the North Sumatra civil society alliance support us. Thus, we can be united, agree, discuss this together, and reach the conclusion that I am the reporter,” he said.
Previously, GAMKI along with the Indonesian Christian Community Council (MUKI) Expert Board, Indonesian Pastors Association (API), Pluralism Struggle Movement, DPP Si Pitung, and DPP Horas Bangso Batak reported JK to the Metro Jaya Regional Police.
That report was received and registered under number LP/B/2546/IV/2026/SPKT/Polda Metro Jaya on 12 April 2026.
In their statement, the DPP GAMKI quoted JK’s controversial statements. The statements referred to the conflicts in Poso and Ambon in the early 2000s. They took issue with the phrase ‘martyr’ used by JK regarding the conflicts that touched on religion, including in Poso and Ambon.
The General Chairman of DPP GAMKI, Sahat Sinurat, stated that they also strongly condemned JK’s statements, which they deemed hurtful to Christians and causing unrest in society.
JK and UGM Deny Blasphemy
Meanwhile, JK’s Spokesperson, Husain Abdullah, has also denied the allegations of blaspheming Christian teachings as filed by DPP GAMKI and several other organisations.
Husain stated that the viral social media video post lacks its full context. The video in question contains JK’s statements referring to both sides in the Poso and Ambon conflicts as ‘dying as martyrs’.
“After investigation, the accusation is the result of context cutting. We firmly deny that accusation,” Husain said when confirmed via written message on Sunday (12/4) night.
Husain explained that JK’s statement actually affirmed that no religion in the world teaches its followers to kill each other.
“This mistaken view of both parties was first corrected by Mr JK, stating that no religion permits killing each other. This was conveyed to the war commanders at that time,” he said.
The YouTube channel of the UGM Campus Mosque also weighed in on JK’s sermon titled ‘Indonesia’s Diplomacy Strategy in Mitigating Potential Escalation of Regional Multipolar War’ held at the UGM Campus Mosque on 5 March 2026.
The channel admin conveyed their message through a pinned comment starting from Monday (12/4).
“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,” the admin wrote in the comment section.
CNNIndonesia.com obtained permission from the Chairman of the UGM Mosque Takmir, Muhammad Yusuf, to quote the content of that comment.
“Let us be fair in assessing something, by viewing it comprehensively before drawing conclusions or spreading it further. If further clarification is needed, please contact the relevant parties directly. Thank you for your attention and wisdom,” it concluded.
On the other hand, Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai encouraged resolving the JK polemic through dialogue, as an effort to maintain unity amid potential social tensions based on differing views.
Pigai assessed that a non-litigious approach is more effective in defusing conflicts than legal steps, especially on sensitive issues like religion. He firmly rejected the parties reporting JK to the police.
“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,” Pigai said as quoted by Antara on Wednesday (15/4).