Abu Bakar Bashir Released

Radical Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has been released from prison in Jakarta after serving time for links to the 2002 Bali bombings. Bashir is alleged to be the spiritual leader of the Al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah. James Fletcher reports

Radical Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has been released from prison in Jakarta after serving time for links to the 2002 Bali bombings. Bashir is alleged to be the spiritual leader of the Al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiyah. James Fletcher reports

photo: AP
Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir waves to supporters thronging around him as he walks out of Cipinang prison Wednesday 14 June, 2006 in Jakarta, Indonesia

​​In 2004, Abu Bakar Bashir was convicted of being part of what the court called an "evil conspiracy" behind the 2002 Bali bombings. These killed 202 people, many of them Australian tourists. Speaking in Parliament, Australian Prime Minister John Howard made his feelings about Bashir's release clear to Indonesia's politicians.

"I want them to understand from me, on behalf of the government, how extremely disappointed, even distressed, millions of Australians will be at the release."

In Jakarta, Abu Bakar Bashir was surrounded by supporters as he emerged after 26 months in jail. He called on his followers to join forces to spread Islamic Sharia law.

"Let us strengthen our belief and fight together for one goal, to uphold Sharia law, to bring this land back from oblivion."

Influence not dimmed

Moritz Kleine-Brockhoff is Deutsche Welle's correspondent in Jakarta. He says the time in prison has not dimmed Bashir's influence.

"He's a very respected fundamentalist scholar, but having said that, the majority of the people in Indonesia do not agree with his teachings. This is a moderate Islamic country, but keep in mind that there are more than 220 million Muslims in Indonesian, and even if only a slight minority of one or two per cent would be open to radicalism, that would be a huge amount in absolute numbers. And you could see it today as he was greeted by his supporters after the he was released, and during the trial there were always large gatherings of supporters. So he still has a following today."

The "Ivy League" of militants

Following his release, Bashir was then driven to the Islamic school he co-founded near the city of Solo, around 500km from Jakarta. The Brussels-based International Crisis Group has branded the school the "Ivy League" of militants.

Bashir has also been accused of being the spiritual head of the Jemaah Islamiah militant group. They have links to Al-Qaeda, and have been blamed for a string of deadly bombings in Indonesia. According to Moritz Kleine-Brockhoff, the authorities have had some success in disrupting the group, but the danger of terrorism still persists.

"More than 100 extremists have been arrested by the Indonesian police who have been very active and very successful in catching both big fish and supporters. But there are a couple of guys who are still on the run, and who were involved in every bombing that's happened so far. Allegedly they have distanced themselves from Jemaah Islamiyah and have founded smaller splinter groups. But call it what you like, it's terrorism, and it's still out there in Indonesia."

James Fletcher

© Deutsche Welle 2006

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