Sermon on 'Martyrdom' Leads to Blasphemy Report Against JK

A viral sermon on ‘martyrdom’ has drawn former Indonesian Vice Presidents Jusuf Kalla into legal trouble. JK has been reported to the Metro Jaya Police for alleged blasphemy. The report was filed by the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI), who visited the Integrated Police Services Centre (SPKT) at Metro Jaya Police Headquarters on Sunday night (12/4). “We from the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement came earlier to report Mr Jusuf Kalla. Our presence also represents around 19 Christian organisations and community groups,” said GAMKI General Chairman Sahat Martin Philip Sinurat to reporters, quoted on Monday (13/4/2026). The report was registered under number LP/B/2547/IV/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA dated 12 April 2026. In the report, Sahat accused Jusuf Kalla of blasphemy as per Articles 300 and/or 301 and/or 263 and/or 264 and/or 243 of Law No. 1 of 2023. Sahat stated that JK’s viral sermon on ‘martyrdom’ was seen as hurtful to Christians because it did not align with Christian teachings. “Therefore, we reported it to Metro Jaya Police so that this statement, which has caused a stir on social media, can be directed and resolved legally,” he added. According to Sahat, the statement also did not align with the Christian teaching of ‘love’. He emphasised that Christian teachings do not advocate killing people of different religions. “In fact, Christian teachings do not teach that; we are taught to love fellow humans, even enemies,” he added. Sahat said his side was open to forgiveness if Jusuf Kalla issued an apology. However, the legal process would be left to law enforcement. “Precisely because we forgive, we do not want this to become a disturbance on social media. We even see on social media that Mr Jusuf Kalla is being criticised and cursed by many netizens. So we place this in the legal realm,” said Sahat. In agreement, Central Board Chairman of Catholic Youth Stefanus Asat Gusma said GAMKI along with Catholic Youth reported Jusuf Kalla because the circulating content was deemed disturbing. He stressed that Christian and Catholic teachings do not recognise violence, let alone murder of fellow humans. “So we reported it tonight so the situation can be controlled by law enforcement,” said Stefanus. According to him, JK’s statement circulating on social media has triggered unrest to the point of sparking enmity. “Comments on social media are already mutually insulting, humiliating, and touching on SARA issues,” he said. JK Demanded to Apologise Stefanus hopes Jusuf Kalla will soon respond to the report. He also asked JK to issue a public apology. “Our hope is, as a national figure, Mr JK will respond to this well, at least by giving a public statement, apologising, and then clarifying everything,” explained Stefanus. He added that his side would communicate with organisational structures throughout Indonesia to calm the atmosphere. In addition, he hopes Metro Jaya Police will follow up on the report. The editorial team has contacted JK’s Spokesperson, Husain Abdullah, for comment on the report. However, until this news was published, there has been no response from JK’s side. JK Denies Blasphemy Previously, JK’s Spokesperson, Husain Abdullah, denied the circulating narrative. He said the accusation arose after JK’s statement went viral regarding the use of the term ‘martyrdom’ by both sides in the Poso and Ambon conflicts. “However, upon investigation, the accusation is the result of context cutting. We firmly deny the accusation,” said Husain when contacted on Sunday (12/4). Husain explained that the statement was delivered by JK during a speech at the Campus Mosque of Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta, on Thursday (5/3/2026). In his full statement, JK emphasised that no religion teaches its followers to kill each other. “JK described his efforts to reconcile the Poso and Ambon conflicts to the UGM academic community. Where JK first straightened the beliefs of the two conflicting groups, Muslims and Christians, that they had acted wrongly by using religious jargon as justification, causing thousands of lives to be lost on both sides. And the conflict was hard to stop,” he explained.