Reuters AlertNet, 22 Apr 2004 10:08:18 GMT
Newsdesk
Indonesia Muslim leader latest Bashir visitor
JAKARTA, April 22 (Reuters) - One of Indonesia's most senior Muslim clerics visited
jailed preacher Abu Bakar Bashir on Thursday and criticised what he called U.S.
meddling in his case, the latest show of support for the high-profile terror suspect.
After visiting the alleged spiritual leader of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah
network at Jakarta's Salemba prison, Din Syamsuddin accused the U.S. embassy of
trying to get leading Muslim clerics to help prolong Bashir's incarceration.
Bashir is due to be freed on April 30 after serving time for immigration offences. But
last week police named him a suspect in a fresh terror investigation, which could
allow authorities to keep the 65-year-old preacher detained.
Din Syamsuddin is deputy head of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's second biggest
moderate Muslim organisation, and also secretary general of an umbrella group of
clerics.
"I know the U.S. embassy via its ambassador in Jakarta has asked some Islamic
figures to help keep Abu Bakar Bashir in jail. This is clearly intervention," Syamsuddin
told reporters.
The U.S. ambassador to Jakarta, Ralph Boyce, has denied trying to intervene in
Indonesia's legal system, although Washington has made clear it wants Bashir to
remain behind bars.
In their fresh investigation into Bashir, police are focusing on possible links to the
2002 Bali bombings and the preacher's alleged leadership of Jemaah Islamiah.
Bashir denies links to terror and says JI does not exist.
Authorities blame Jemaah Islamiah for the October 2002 Bali bomb attacks that killed
202 people. Bashir was arrested just after Bali, although he has never been named a
suspect.
Previous charges against Bashir of leading Jemaah Islamiah and treason were either
dismissed or overturned. (Reporting by Telly Nathalia)
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