Joko Widodo is sending mixed signals about whether he is truly combating religious radicalism.
Abu Bakar Bashir is driven away from prison after his release on 8 January 2021 in Bogor, Indonesia (Photo by Getty Images) Published 15 Jan 2021 06:00 0 Comments
When Indonesian authorities recently banned well-known extremist group the Islamic Defenders’ Front (FPI) – having first arrested its leader, Rizieq Shihab – many lauded the move as a bold pushback against radicalism. But, weeks later, the world was equally stunned to learn that Indonesia had granted Abu Bakar Bashir, a cleric convicted of involvement in the “evil conspiracy” leading to the 2002 Bali bombings, an early release from prison on “humanitarian” grounds.