More antics from the irrepressible Abu Bakar Bashir, one of Indonesia’s leading jihadists. From the Herald Sun, with thanks to Jean-Luc:
DUBAI: Jailed Indonesian militant Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has rejected accusations of terrorism, while expressing admiration for al-Qa’ida leader Osama bin Laden, according to the Saudi weekly Al-Majallah.
“The American accusations are pure allegations,” Bashir, 65, said from prison in an interview for today’s edition of the magazine, which is published in London.
Bashir denied engaging in “terrorist activities” or being the head of the al-Qa’ida-linked Jemaah Islamiah terror group.Police say they have enough to charge him for a string of terror attacks, including the October 12, 2002, bombings in Bali that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. …
“The United States wants to keep me in prison because they consider I am dangerous for their interests because I call for the implementation of Islamic Sharia law in Indonesia,” Bashir told the Al-Majallah.
He also described bin Laden as “a hero of Islam” and US President George W. Bush and the American army as “henchmen of the devil”.