Indonesia's Blasphemy Law Faces Scrutiny After Report Against Former Vice-President Jusuf Kalla

Indonesia's blasphemy law has come under scrutiny after former vice-president Jusuf Kalla was reported to police for remarks linking past Muslim-Christian conflicts to beliefs about martyrdom. The report was filed by several Christian and Catholic youth groups in mid-April, following comments Kalla made during a public lecture at Indonesia's Gajah Mada University last month.

Kalla, a career politician who no longer holds public office, referenced historic sectarian conflicts in Poso in Central Sulawesi and Ambon in the Malukus.

his address to university students, Kalla stated, "Why do religions easily become a reason for conflict, like in Poso and Ambon? " He added, "During conflict, both sides hold that belief. If I kill a Muslim, I become a martyr. If I die, I also become a martyr.

" Footage of the speech circulated widely on Indonesian social media.

The Poso clashes between Muslim and Christian groups occurred from 1998 to 2001 and resulted in more than 1,000 deaths, according to reports. The religious riots in the Malukus from 1999 to 2002 caused at least 5,000 deaths. The case involves Christian complainants filing against a senior Muslim figure in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.

South China Morning Post reported that this situation illustrates the law's potential for politicized application, as noted by critics.