"The will of God must be carried out," Baysir said

JAKARTA, April 30 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Indonesian police detained Muslim scholar Abu Bakar Basyir immediately after his release from a Jakarta jail Friday, April 30, drawing fierce criticisms from his supporters.

The authorities said earlier this week that Basyir would be released Friday after serving an 18-month term for minor immigration offenses.

But in a sudden turn, prosecutors said they would issue an arrest warrant for the 66-year-old scholar on suspicion of masterminding a series of bombings dating back to 2000 that included the October 12, 2002, Bali bombings.

Taken form a national police headquarters to an armored vehicle, the Muslim scholar smiled and waved at waiting reporters, saying: "The will of God must be carried out".

‘Many Cases’

Asked what charges Basyir faced, national detective chief Suyatno Landung said: "Many cases from 1999 to 2002, (including) that one in Bali".

Ansyaad Mbai, who heads the security ministry's anti-terrorism desk, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that Basyir would face charges relating to "terrorism cases in Indonesia, starting in 2000 until the Bali bombing and the Marriott bombing".

"The culprits are (Jemaah Islamiyah) JI and JI is led by him. That is the connection," Mbai said.

"Now the police have proof that Abu Bakar Basyir is the leader of JI."

Mbai said an indictment would include the Bali blasts; the Marriott hotel bombing which killed 12 people in Jakarta last August; the Christmas Eve 2000 church bombings which killed 19 people and other attacks.

Basyir– who enjoys widespread respect and sympathy among Indonesians - denies that what is known as JI – allegedly linked to al-Qaeda group - even exists in the first place.

Pranowo, a director of the police anti-terrorism branch, said an arrest order was being prepared for a period of four months, according to Detikcom news service.

"If necessary, it can be extended for another two months," he said.

’Illegal’

But for Basyir’s supporters, the new evidence is "nonsense", and his lawyers stressed the detention is illegal.

Muhammad Assegaf, one of Basyir's lawyers, described the new evidence against the scholar as nonsense and criticized police handling of his supporters.

Another lawyer complained the warrant did not follow procedures.

"This is not an arrest, this is kidnapping," said Achmad Khalid.

Paramilitary police in riot gear fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of rock-throwing supporters outside Jakarta's Salemba jail before the Muslim scholar emerged from a national police headquarters.

A number of people were injured and several cars smashed during the protests

A number of people were injured and several cars smashed during the protests.

Water cannon began spraying the crowd, who responded with rocks and bottles. "We are ready to die as martyrs!" screamed some protesters.

Police pushed supporters back from the jail approaches. Basyir supporters said about 40 people were detained.

Some mainstream Islamic groups, as well as Baysir himself, accuse Jakarta of bowing to U.S. pressure to re-arrest him with the approaching Presidential elections.

The U.S., Australian and Singapore governments had expressed concern at Basyir’s scheduled release after an appeal court last November overturned his conviction for involvement with a JI plot and upheld only minor immigration charges.

Australia's Foreign Ministry welcomed Friday's arrest as "a further sign of the Indonesian government's commitment to bring the perpetrators of terrorist violence to justice".

Basyir has not been previously charged in connection with the Bali attacks, but he did stand trial accused of plotting to overthrow the government as the alleged spiritual leader of JI, the BBC News Online reported.

But he was cleared of treason in September 2003.

Since he was last in court, a new law has come into force which sets a lower burden of proof in cases involving terrorism.

Baysir, who regularly castigates the U.S. government and other governments, reacted calmly when shown the arrest warrant outside the jail.

"Yes, sir," he said. "There is no problem".