Indonesia jails Islamic school principal for terrorism

Source Malaysian Digest

JAKARTA: An Indonesian court on Wednesday jailed an Islamic boarding school head for 17 years for preaching on jihad that led to terrorism and possessing more than two dozen home-made bombs and inciting terrorism.

Abrory M Ali, who was the head of the Umar bin Khatab boarding school in West Nusa Tenggara province, eastern Indonesia, was arrested in July when some of his home-made bombs went off accidentally, killing a school employee, according to China’s Xinhua news agency citing local press reports.

Following the blast, police tried to raid the school but students attempted to stop them in a bid to prevent the discovery of the explosives and firearms.

This prompted a three-day standoff during which the students, armed with machetes and swords, barricaded themselves inside.

“The defendant’s deeds caused many people to suffer from injuries and he tainted the good reputation of Indonesia which has promoted the eradication of terrorism,” presiding judge Iman Gultom read in the verdict on Wednesday.

Abrory’s lawyer, Asruddin said the punishment as too harsh.

Indonesia has successfully cracked down on terrorist activities in the wake of major terrorist bombings leaving more than 270 people dead, by killing and bringing terrorist top figures and their followers to justice.

But in recent years the militants movement have turned to small- scale acts and larger targets, such as government official and vital objects.