The controversial Islamic cleric and alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali Bombings, Abu Bakar Ba asyir, 82, was freed from an Indonesian jail on Friday (January 8) morning. He was sentenced to 15 years in jail in 2011 for his role in the bombings. But considering his age and good behavior in prison, his sentence was cut down by 55 months, drawing widespread condemnation.
Ba asyir was the teacher at an al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist organization named Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) when the group set off bombs in two Bali nightclubs Paddy s Irish Bar and Sari Club and outside the US consulate on October 12, 2002, killing 202 and injuring 209 people from 21 nations.