Jusuf Kalla Clarifies UGM Lecture, Denies Religious Blasphemy Accusations

Former Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla has firmly refuted claims that his recent lecture at Gadjah Mada University constituted religious blasphemy. Speaking from his residence in South Jakarta, Kalla provided a detailed clarification of his remarks, emphasizing that his address, delivered during the holy month of Ramadan, was centered on the theme of peace.

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The event at UGM was a Ramadan lecture, like those held in mosques everywhere. I was invited and attended because the theme was peace. Peace. So specifically, the theme was about steps towards peace.

Kalla explained that his lecture aimed to dissect the nature of conflict, drawing upon examples from both global and Indonesian contexts, including the religiously charged conflicts in Poso and Ambon. He elaborated on how these conflicts were perceived by some as religious wars, leading to the notion of martyrdom for their respective faiths. Kalla pointed out that while the terms 'syahid' (Islamic martyrdom) and 'martyr' (Christian context) might differ in terminology, their essence – dying for a cause – is similar, a point he made while addressing an audience in a mosque.

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Is it true that I blasphemed? I reconciled this, did I blaspheme? I risked my life with Hamid, entering the area you saw. Entering that area. No Minister, President Gus Dur, Mrs. Megawati could do it.

Crucially, Kalla stressed that his discourse did not delve into religious dogma or ideology. He argued that the violence witnessed in Poso and Ambon stemmed from a misinterpretation and violation of religious teachings by those involved, rather than from any inherent tenets of Islam or Christianity. His intervention, he maintained, was aimed at fostering reconciliation and understanding, a role he undertook when other authorities could not.

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If syahid, all are the same, dying for defending religion. That is syahid. Martyr is also like that, defending, dying for defending religion. So it's just a term.

The clarification comes after the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) and other organizations reported Kalla to the police, alleging his statements were offensive to Christian teachings and caused public unrest. Kalla's defense highlights the delicate balance of interfaith dialogue in Indonesia and the potential for misinterpretation, even when the speaker's intent is to promote peace and reconciliation.

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I am not talking about religious dogma, I am not talking about religious ideology, no. About why they killed each other? Why did they kill each other? Is there Islam and Christianity [teaching this]? No. So they all violated religious teachings.