Archive for February 24th, 2011

Well-known Indonesian multifaith peace activist, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir

No Terrorist Like an Old Terrorist:

Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir on Thursday denied leading an Al-Qaeda-style group that was plotting attacks and assassinations in Indonesia, as his trial resumed amid tight security.
But he said that Muslims carrying out weapons training did so as a divinely-ordered “act of worship” so as to “defend Islam”.

The preacher, who is revered by Islamists around the region, is accused of leading a militant group that was discovered last year training recruits in Aceh province to wage jihad or holy war.

Police jostled with about 200 of the 72-year-old’s supporters who tried to enter the court as he arrived under tight guard amid shouts of “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest). Read the rest of this entry »