Steven Pailah Clarifies Jusuf Kalla's Statement About the 'Martyrdom' Concept in Conflict

Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla, in a speech at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta, stated that religious conflicts like those in Poso and Ambon were difficult to stop because both sides, Muslim and Christian, believed in the concept of 'martyrdom'-dying or killing in conflict as a spiritual path. This statement was made during a lecture at the UGM Campus Mosque on March 5, 2026, and sparked public debate. Steven Pailah, Coordinator of the Prabowo's Grassroots Legal Aid Institute (LBH Arus Bawah Prabowo or ABP), issued a clarification on Monday, April 13, 2026. He asserted that Jusuf Kalla's statement had the potential to mislead public understanding. "In the Christian tradition, there is no teaching that justifies killing others as a way to obtain spiritual glory," said Steven. He explained that the concept of martyrdom in Christianity refers to a willingness to suffer or die non-violently. Jusuf Kalla's spokesperson, Husain Abdullah, responded on Saturday, April 10, 2026. He emphasized that the statement referred to historical facts on the ground during the conflict, not a personal view. "What Mr. JK conveyed was the reality on the ground when the conflict broke out. At that time, there were indeed groups from both sides that were simultaneously calling for holy war and claiming that killing the enemy or dying in conflict was martyrdom. That is a historical fact," said Husain. Steven added that simplifying the narrative risks obscuring the complexity of the conflict, which was also influenced by social, political, and economic factors. https://www.harianaceh.co.id/2026/04/13/steven-pailah-kritik-pernyataan-jusuf-kalla-tidak-ada-ajaran-kristen-benarkan-membunuh-sebagai-jalan-spiritual/