“The Jakarta Superior Court has overturned militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir’s treason and sedition conviction, and cut his jail term from four years to three.” This from Straits Times, with thanks to nicolei. Judges said prosecutors failed to prove Bashir had taken part in a plot by the Al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terror network to […]
Indonesia: Christians in precarious situation
Joko Harmono reports in Christian Monitor that the situation of Christians in Indonesia has not improved since the Malino Accord of December 2001. In fact, since then “there have been repeated provocative violations of the agreement. In January and February 2002 there were some promising signs that perhaps the Malino Accord could produce a lasting […]
Global jihad watch: Philippine rebels trained by Indonesian terrorists
Just as foreign jihadists are traveling to Iraq to wage jihad, so “Indonesian militants from the Al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah (JI) network are probably training Filipino guerillas in mountainous areas on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, a top official said yesterday.” This from AFP, with thanks to Nicolei. “Defence Secretary Eduardo Ermita, quoting military intelligence […]
Radical Islam’s inroads in Indonesia
Endy M. Bayuni of the Jakarta Post offers a clear-eyed assessment of the future of radical Islam and democracy in Indonesia: “Political Islam has been making significant inroads ever since Indonesia embarked on democracy in 1998. To the casual observer, the specter of Islamist political forces overrunning secular parties in democratic elections seems all too […]
Bali bomber “urges others to continue struggle”
The Bali bomber has called on other Muslims to “continue the struggle” (which is jihad in Arabic): “The Bali bombing mastermind sentenced to death for his crimes urged fellow terrorists in Turkey, Iraq and elsewhere to ‘continue the struggle’, a report here said Tuesday.” This from AFP, with thanks to nicolei.) “Imam Samudra, convicted of […]
Jakarta on alert for Christmas jihad
Will there be a Christmas jihad in Indonesia? “The countdown to Christmas has begun and it is giving security officials here sleepless nights.” This from Straits Times, with thanks to LGF. “What they fear is that Dec 25 will be ushered in with another terrorist bombing blitz. There are signs that preparations are under way, […]
Indonesia: Church service schedules found in raid on terror suspects
They weren’t planning on going to sing a few hymns, either. According to the Barnabas Fund, “Church service schedules have been found in a raid on terror suspects. The discovery was made days after the alleged mastermind of the Bali bombings shouted during his trial ‘We are ready to win the crusade against Christians! We […]