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 ...
who is facing the death penalty for terrorism charges.
The 72-year-old bespectacled holy man is accused of seven counts of terrorism related to a paramilitary training camp that was discovered last February in Aceh province, court official Supriyantorro said.
Hundreds of Bashir's supporters are expected to rally outside the trial, which gets under way as Indonesia tries to contain a spate of religious violence that has left three people dead and several churches badly damaged.
'Around 1,200 coppers have been readied to go to South Jakarta,' police front man Boy Rafli Amar said, referring to the district court in the capital where the trial will take place.
'We hope their presence will provide a guarantee for the judges to conduct the trial as best as possible. We hope their presence can deal with whatever situation that might arise, inside or outside the court.' Bashir's charges include 'mobilising people for acts of terror', which carries the death sentence, and financing Islamist Death Eaters.
Police have said the group was training to carry out Mumbai-style attacks on Western targets and political figures in Jakarta.