Ba’asyir: 15-year Imprisonment is Haram

VIVAnews – Abu Bakar Ba’asyir escaped a life sentence. The panel of judges led by Herry Swantoro sentenced the terrorism convict to15-year imprisonment.

Ba’asyir’s supporters shouted ‘God is great’ at the courtroom. In the meantime, the amir of Jamaah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT) approached his lawyers instantly. “The legal advisor team wanted an appeal,” said one of Ba’asyir’s lawyers today.

Ba’asyir also rejected the ruling. “By God’s permission I reject the verdict because this is despotic,” said Ba’asyir. “Because it ruled out Islamic sharia law, its basis was only the state decree. It’s haram (forbidden) for me to accept it,” he said.

The verdict was lower than the state prosecutors’ demand, that is life sentence. Ba’asyir was found not guilty of the primary charge, but the otherwise for the secondary.

The judges considered that he was not involved in the procurement of firearms and ammunition for the military training in Janto, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. According to the judges, the firearms and ammunitions in the military training in Aceh were procured by, among others, Abdullah Sunata and Abu Tholut.

The judges also considered an aggravating factor that Ba’asyir did not support the government’s cause to fight terrorism. In addition, the convict had also been sentenced for a similar offense.

Ba’asyir’s not being involved in the bombings in Indonesia including Bali Bombings, Marriot hotel bombing and Cirebon Police mosque bombing were not taken into account in the judges’ ruling. Ba’asyir violated Article 14 in conjunction with Article 7 of terrorism law.

Ba’asyir was found having planned and encouraging people to raise funds for terrorism act. It was found that the funds collected by Ba’asyir amounted to Rp350 million, of which Rp150 million from Haryadi Usman and Rp200 million from Syarif Usman.

Translated by Indah Lestari