08/17/2010, 00.00
INDONESIA
Send to a friend

Terror suspect Baasyr refuses to speak, claiming police questions are haram, prohibited

by Mathias Hariyadi
Abu Bakar Baasyr accuses investigators of complicity with the United States and Israel. Police claims it has evidence of the cleric’s guilt. In his hometown of Solo, Muslim demonstrators clamour his arrest will “draw God’s wrath”.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Abu Bakar Baasyr (pictured), an extremist Muslim cleric accused of terrorism, is refusing to answer police questions because in his view they are “haram”, i.e. prohibited under Islamic law. Arrested on 9 August in Banjar Patroman, West Java, he has accused investigators of being accomplices of the United States and Israel.

The authorities suspect Baasyr of being the head of Al-Qaidah, a terrorist cell based in Aceh, and al-Qaeda’s top man in Southeast Asia. He has also been charged with funding a training camp for terrorists in Aceh to the tune of a million dollars.

Despite Baasyr’s refusal to answer questions, police spokesman Inspector General Edward Aritonang said that the authorities had evidence against the preacher, including video footage and records of financial transactions.

“Our information points to him as Al-Qaidah chief,” Aritonang explained. “This group of terrorists is new and includes various extremists, with members from Jemaah Islamiyah, Indonesian Islamic State, Jemaah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT) and Kompak”.

Baasyr’s lawyer, Achmad Midan, did confirm that the cleric, who heads JAT, funded paramilitary training for the al-Qaidah group, but denied that it was for terrorist purposes. Instead, he claimed it was designed to prepare men to fight in the Gaza Strip, should Israelis attack Muslims.

In Baasyr’s hometown of Solo, Central Java, Muslims took to the streets waving banners to protest against police and the Densus-88 anti-terror squad. One read, “This arrest will cause natural disaster and draw God’s wrath”.

At the same time in Malaysia, the authorities detained Mustawan Ahbab on charges of helping Baasyr raise funds to sponsor terrorist actions.

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
Arrested on terrorism charges, Abu Bakar Baasyr could get the death penalty
10/08/2010
Catholic music to promote dialogue in Ambon, the city of sectarian violence
17/10/2018 13:29
Abu Bakar Baasyir’s Islamic Association declared "terrorist group"
24/02/2012
Explosion in an Islamic school in Bima, students were building a bomb
12/07/2011
Jakarta, maximum alert ahead of imminent execution of Bali terrorists
03/11/2008


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”