A terror suspect killed during a security operation on New Year's Day had been planning to wage jihad in Syria, Indonesian officials said. National Police Chief Sutarman said, "Nurul Haq was planning to go to Syria [to perform] jihad and had completed the required preparations, such as passport, visa requirements, and other necessities."Nurul was one of six men killed while resisting arrest during a nine-hour standoff with an Indonesian counter-terror squad in South Tangerang. They were suspected of robbing a bank and of bombing a Buddhist temple in Jakarta last August.
Nurul Haq was also in charge of bomb assembly training camps in Poso, and was part of the Abu Roban group, according to Sutarman. He said, "They have a strong connection with their senior leadership, including [the late] Noordin M. Top."
Indonesian authorities have not provided information on how many Indonesians are fighting in Syria. However, several humanitarian aid and relief efforts for Syria originated in Indonesia.
Ismail Yusanto, a spokesman for Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), said members of his group are going to Syria to join opposition groups fighting the Assad regime. He said, "Many of our members are conducting jihad [in] Syria. Since it is easier to come legally to Syria using a tourist visa, many of them are able to conduct jihad personally."
Yusanto added that HTI had already committed to helping opposition fighters in Syria implement their interpretation of sharia law in its areas.
Many Indonesians disagree with their understanding of jihad, however. According to Central Jakarta Islamic cleric Burhanuddin, Indonesia needs jihadis to fight intolerance and help fellow Muslims understand the truths of Islam, not to wage war. He said, "Indonesian jihadis deploying to defend Muslims in other countries is not a new phenomenon. But is it necessary to go to Syria now?"
Burhanuddin added, "We need more jihadists to fight against improper understandings of Islam. Islam is not terrorists and we are not part of them."