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Indonesian
Libel Trial Against Singapore Over Terror Claims
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| Abu Bakar
Bashir, surrounded by guards and lawyers at a Jakarta,
Indonesia court. |
By
Kazi Mahmood, IOL Correspondent
JAKARTA,
March 21 (IslamOnline) - A Jakarta court on Thursday began hearing a
libel suit filed by a Muslim cleric who claims the Singapore
government accused him of being an international terrorist.
Abu
Bakar Bashir, an Islamic teacher in Jakarta, initiated the case
after the Singapore authorities failed to allow him to meet with
Singaporean officials to explain his stance on terrorism.
The
influential Bashir was first arrested in Malaysia in December last
year in a nation swoop that landed 20 alleged members of the
Malaysian Mujahidin Movement (KMM) into the trap.
At
the same time, Singaporean authorities arrested 13 alleged members
of an underground Islamic group called the Jemaah Islamiyah.
The
Singapore government urged the Malaysian authorities to hand Bashir
over to them but he was released unconditionally and allowed to
leave for Indonesia where he enjoys total freedom of movement.
Bashir
has always denied being a member of the Al-Qaida network and
supports the ideas and struggle of Osama Bin Laden, the Saudi
millionaire tagged a terrorist by the US and accused of the
September 11th attacks.
Last
month, Singapore's Foreign Ministry released a statement alleging
Bashir was ringleader of a regional extremist group tied to
al-Qaeda.
Bashir,
who heads a hardline Indonesian Muslim group known as the Indonesian
Mujahidin Council (MUI) said he admires Osama bin Laden. He denied
the accusation and is suing Singapore for 1 trillion rupiah (S$183
million) damages.
Thursday's
session at the South Jakarta District Court was immediately
adjourned because Singapore's ambassador to Indonesia, summoned to
represent his country in the case, was not present.
The
Singapore embassy refused to comment.
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