JK's Side Responds to Report of Alleged Religious Blasphemy, Claims Narrative is Distorted
Jusuf Kalla’s (JK) side has responded to the report by the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) to the Metro Jaya Police regarding a viral lecture on ‘dying as a martyr’. JK assesses that the report arose due to a video clip that was narrated out of context.
“According to me, before reporting, it is best to thoroughly examine the viral content. Because it is clipped and given a narrative that deviates from its substance,” said JK’s Spokesperson, Husain Abdullah, when confirmed on Monday (13/4/2026).
Husain explained that JK’s lecture was delivered in the context of education to reconcile conflicting parties. The lecture was given by JK when speaking at UGM on 5 March 2026.
“The core message delivered by Mr JK in the lecture at UGM on 5/3 was a kind of lesson on how to reconcile two conflicting parties. Mr JK expressed the views of the conflicting parties during the Poso and Ambon riots, or the sociological reality during the conflict, not Mr JK’s personal opinion,” he said.
Husain elaborated that in the lecture, JK described the conditions during the Poso and Ambon conflicts. At that time, he said, both conflicting parties used religious narratives to justify violent actions.
“The reality at that time, both conflicting parties (Muslim and Christian) used religious jargon to kill each other. Their understanding or belief, both Muslims and Christians, if they kill the opponent or are killed, they will enter paradise. That is why the Poso and Ambon conflicts are called SARA-tinged conflicts, which were difficult to stop, claiming thousands of lives. 2,000 people died in Poso, while in Ambon it reached 5,000 people killed,” Husain added.
He emphasised that JK did not justify such actions. According to him, JK instead assessed that this understanding must be corrected because both parties were equally wrong.
“To address it, according to Mr JK, the understanding of the conflicting groups must be straightened out. Because both have made mistakes. So Mr JK said you will all go to hell if you kill each other, not enter paradise. Because no religion teaches to act that way,” he explained.
Husain stressed that JK’s statement was not a personal opinion, but a depiction of the social reality during the conflict presented as a lesson.
“So what Mr JK conveyed is not a personal opinion, but the social reality at that time that developed among those in conflict. This is what Mr JK presented as a lesson learned, recounting the approach he took when seeking to reconcile the conflicting parties in Poso and Ambon, by first changing the paradigm that motivated them during the conflict,” Husain asserted.
It is known that GAMKI reported JK to the Metro Jaya Police after his lecture video on ‘dying as a martyr’ went viral on Sunday (12/4). Jusuf Kalla was reported for alleged religious blasphemy.
GAMKI’s report was registered under number LP/B/2547/IV/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA, dated 12 April 2026. In the report, Sahat as the complainant reported Jusuf Kalla regarding alleged religious blasphemy as referred to in Article 300 and/or Article 301 and/or Article 263 and/or Article 264 and/or Article 243 of Law Number 1 of 2023.