JAKARTA, Indonesia—It is his third terrorism trial. But Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, 72, said all he wanted to do was to “defend Islam.”
Ba’asyir, charged with seven terrorism charges, appeared in a South Jakarta District Court on Monday. According to prosecutors, Ba’asyir is responsible for setting up and funding a terrorist-cell in Aceh. The cell was allegedly planning bomb attacks aimed at foreigners in embassies, 5-star hotels, and also the Indonesian Republic National Police Office and the Mobile Brigade building in West Java.
“The defendant recruited and prepared troops, and provides monetary funds … amounting to Rp. 1,039,500,000 [US$116,600],” a prosecutor said in court.
Intelligence agencies and the United Nations have identified Bashir as one of the co-founders of Jemaah Islamiyah, responsible for the 2002 bombings in Bali that left over 200 dead, mostly foreigners. He was found guilty of conspiracy and sentenced to two years, but his conviction was subsequently overturned and he was freed in 2006.
Jemaah Islamiyah has solicited and received support from al-Qaeda for terrorist activities in Southeast Asia, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The organization has sought to create an “idealized Islamic state comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Southern Philippines, and Southern Thailand,” according to the document.
If convicted on the most serious offenses—planning an act of terrorism and trafficking weapons for the purpose of terrorism—he faces the death penalty.
Talking to reporters on Monday ahead of the court hearing, Ba’asyir denied all the charges, saying they were fabricated. Hundreds of supporters of Ba’asyir, who is the head of Al-Mukmin Islamic Boarding School in Sukoharjo, appeared in the courtroom.
“I am accused of leading the militant group in Aceh, while I am not connected to them in any way, and this is related to dollars,” said Ba’asyir, implying that the United States is behind what he calls false allegations.
Ba’asyir admitted the existence of a para-military training camp, saying the men were being trained there to defend Islam in case it came under attack and it did not plan terrorist attacks.
Ba’asyir was arrested on Aug. 9 last year on suspicion of masterminding new terrorist attacks on foreigners and Indonesian authorities. The arrest was carried out by Indonesia’s anti-terrorism unit, Special Detachment 88—named after the 88 Australians that died in the deadly Bali bombings in 2002. The trial will continue next week.
Ba’asyir, charged with seven terrorism charges, appeared in a South Jakarta District Court on Monday. According to prosecutors, Ba’asyir is responsible for setting up and funding a terrorist-cell in Aceh. The cell was allegedly planning bomb attacks aimed at foreigners in embassies, 5-star hotels, and also the Indonesian Republic National Police Office and the Mobile Brigade building in West Java.
“The defendant recruited and prepared troops, and provides monetary funds … amounting to Rp. 1,039,500,000 [US$116,600],” a prosecutor said in court.
Intelligence agencies and the United Nations have identified Bashir as one of the co-founders of Jemaah Islamiyah, responsible for the 2002 bombings in Bali that left over 200 dead, mostly foreigners. He was found guilty of conspiracy and sentenced to two years, but his conviction was subsequently overturned and he was freed in 2006.
Jemaah Islamiyah has solicited and received support from al-Qaeda for terrorist activities in Southeast Asia, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The organization has sought to create an “idealized Islamic state comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Southern Philippines, and Southern Thailand,” according to the document.
If convicted on the most serious offenses—planning an act of terrorism and trafficking weapons for the purpose of terrorism—he faces the death penalty.
Talking to reporters on Monday ahead of the court hearing, Ba’asyir denied all the charges, saying they were fabricated. Hundreds of supporters of Ba’asyir, who is the head of Al-Mukmin Islamic Boarding School in Sukoharjo, appeared in the courtroom.
“I am accused of leading the militant group in Aceh, while I am not connected to them in any way, and this is related to dollars,” said Ba’asyir, implying that the United States is behind what he calls false allegations.
Ba’asyir admitted the existence of a para-military training camp, saying the men were being trained there to defend Islam in case it came under attack and it did not plan terrorist attacks.
Ba’asyir was arrested on Aug. 9 last year on suspicion of masterminding new terrorist attacks on foreigners and Indonesian authorities. The arrest was carried out by Indonesia’s anti-terrorism unit, Special Detachment 88—named after the 88 Australians that died in the deadly Bali bombings in 2002. The trial will continue next week.
