Jusuf Kalla urges calm, asks supporters to cancel blasphemy protests
Thekabarnews.com—Indonesia’s 10th and 12th vice president, Jusuf Kalla, has urged his supporters and the broader Muslim community to keep off the streets. He made this appeal following accusations of...
Thekabarnews.com—Indonesia’s 10th and 12th vice president, Jusuf Kalla, has urged his supporters and the broader Muslim community to keep off the streets. He made this appeal following accusations of blasphemy in a police report.
“I have been working actively to prevent possible unrest in some areas, including in Makassar and Jakarta,” Kalla said in a press conference at his residence in South Jakarta, Saturday, April 18.
Kalla appealed for the preservation of public order and the avoidance of anything that might inflame tensions.
“I told people, don’t do protests. I have told the leaders of Dewan Masjid Indonesia to keep the mosques calm and not to react further,” Kalla said.
Kalla targeted plans for a large-scale demonstration in his hometown of Makassar. In addition, he appealed to the organizers to call off the protest. He said that the stability of the public is of utmost importance.
Kalla said many had taken offense at the allegations made against him but appealed to people not to demonstrate.
“I will leave the legal matters to my legal team, and anyone who feels harmed can pursue their own legal action,” he said. Many individuals feel offended and wish to report the incident. In addition, I don’t go to court, but the public is entitled to do so,” he said.
When asked if he would take legal action himself, Kalla said the legal action taken by his team and the public was enough. He was confident that the legal proceedings would eliminate any false charges.
“I have personally forgiven those who reported me to the police,” Kalla said. He also delivered a public lecture at Gadjah Mada University before submitting the report to Polda Metro Jaya.
“I hope God will forgive them,” added Kalla.
The public and the media should approach the situation with an objective perspective. In addition, they should see the whole historical context of his statement. They should not see only the partial video clips that have been circulating on social media.
Representatives of several organizations, including the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) and Catholic youth groups, filed the police report on April 12, 2026. Kalla’s comments, the groups said, had caused unrest among the people. Moreover, they had offended members of the Christian community.
“This report is a picture of the approximately 19 Christian organizations that agreed to take the matter to the legal domain,” said GAMKI Chairman Sahat Martin Philip Sinurat.
The case has received much public attention, especially on social media, and highlighted sensitivities over religious issues in Indonesia. Authorities have called for calm as the case unfolds. In addition, they urged all sides to let the legal process take its course.
Meanwhile, Kalla’s call for calm emphasizes the necessity of dialogue and legal recourse to resolve sensitive social and religious issues. The statement comes at a time of heightened tensions.
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