Abu Bakar Bashir... Leader of the Indonesian Mujahedeen Council and proprietor of the al-Mukmin madrassah in Ngruki. The spriritual head of Jemaah Islamiya, which he denies exists. Bashir was jugged and then released in the wake of the 2002 Bali bombings, which he blamed on a conspiracy among the U.S., Israel, and Australia ...
will appear in court Tuesday (Jan 12) for a judicial review to get an early release from his 15-year prison sentence.
The trial was moved to Cilacap, central Java, from its original location at the South Jakarta district court after judges approved a request from Bashir's team of attorneys to have it at a more convenient location, because of his age and frail health.
The 77-year-old holy man, who publicly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling
Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not
reallyMoslems....
holy warrior group in 2014, is being held at the Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap regency.
Bashir, known as the spiritual leader of holy warrior organization, Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid, is serving 15 years in prison.
In 2011, he was found guilty of funding military training of a terrorist group in Aceh.
He appealed to the Jakarta High Court, which reduced his sentence to nine years.
But, the Supreme Court overruled that decision and changed the sentence back to 15 year before Bashir asked for a judicial review.
In Tuesday's judicial review, Bashir will be represented by a team of ten attorneys, who will be presenting five new witnesses in the trial, three of whom are also serving time in the Nusakambangan prison.
Many of the hardline holy man's supporters are expected to attend the trial which is open to the public.
Bashir's attorneys have urged them to exercise restraint and not cause any security problems.
"They have already agreed on that, and they already promised us they will only come and give mental support but for the security institution, please be careful, and be alert for provocateurs who might provoke the situation," said lawyer Mahendradatta.
The judicial review is expected to stretch over three to four sessions, which could last for several weeks.