A popular Islamic political party leader defended jailed militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir on Saturday, claiming he was not a terrorist and should be freed despite police linking him to the October, 2002 Bali bombings. Hidayat Nurwahid, head of the Islamic-based Justice and Prosperity Party, also argued that foreign governments, including the United States, were wrong to argued Bashir should be kept behind bars. "There is no evidence that justifies calling Bashir a terrorist," Hidayat said after visiting the 65-year-old cleric in jail.
| Except for the bodies. And the explosives. And the testimony... |
"We are against arresting people like Bashir without evidence," he said. "I'm here to ensure that the law is enforced without intervention from another country." On Friday, police officially declared Bashir a criminal suspect, which allows them to keep him in jail when his current period of detention ends later this month. Police said they have enough evidence to charge him with terror crimes, including the Oct. 12, 2002, bombings in Bali that killed 202 people. The move will likely please Washington, which has urged Jakarta not to release Bashir, saying he is a leader of the regional al-Qadia-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terror group which has been blamed for the Bali blast and a series of other bombings. Bashir is in jail for minor immigration offenses after the Supreme Court cleared him of earlier treason and terrorism charges. He is due to be released on April 30. Bashir has repeatedly denied the charges, saying the U.S. government is seeking to punish him for criticizing America's treatment of Muslims and its Middle East policies. Hidayat's party was one of the surprises of April 5 parliamentary elections. It garnered a little more than 7 percent by playing down its Muslim credentials and campaigning on an anti-corruption platform.
| Guess the smiley mask is off, huh? |
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