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November 3, 2005
Indonesia: Islamic Cleric Denied Jail Reduction
The cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, pictured at his trial hearing, was due to have his sentence automatically reduced for a second time by the Indonesian government, we reported last week. The reduction of sentence is handed out at least once a year by the Indonesian authorities to celebrate religious holidays - in this case Eid ul-Fitr, the ending of Ramadan.
Voice of America announces today however that Bashir will not be receiving the privilege this time. Earlier in the year, Yemen-born Bashir had four months struck off his sentence of 30 months, which he gained on a charge of conspiracy. He was involved with the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in 2003 which killed 12, and the suicide-attack on the Australian Embassy which took 10 lives. He is suspected of involvement with the Bali bombings of 2002, in which 202 people were killed, but that incident was not listed on his charge sheet.
Wirawan Adnan, Bashir's lawyer, blames the Australian government's interference for the move. The cleric, who is regarded as the "spiritual leader" of Jemaah Islamiyah, the group behind both Bali bombings, is resigned to his fate, and will not protest the Indonesian authorities' decision.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 3, 2005 10:51 AM
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