: Jamiah Islamiya Allegations Puts Indonesia On Edge

In the wake of the arrests of 21 alleged extremists by Singaporean authorities and the possible designation of their affiliated Jamiah Islamiya group as a terrorist organization by the US, the Indonesian government is on the defensive, struggling to contain the fallout among a population wary of accusations of terror complicity. Although the role of Jamiah Islamiya is still being debated by US authorities, moderate Indonesian Muslim groups are warning of a potential backlash if the complaints are made formal. The leader of the group, Abu Bakar Ba’asyir (himself charged with planning attacks against US embassies) isn’t waiting for that to happen and has challenged the US to produce evidence. “I am not fighting against the American people but against the U.S. government,” Ba’asyir said. “The government and the Jews are fighting against Muslims” (Note to Abu Bakar: Your rhetoric isn’t helping your image). Ba’asyir, who is admired by many poor Indonesian Muslims, has even sued Time Magazine for libel in a recent story about him. For its part, Indonesia and its president, Megawati Sukarnoputri, continues to arrest Al Qaeda suspects independently of the US and has pleaded with neighboring countries to put terror allegations into perspective. In the words of one analyst, she faces “two unpalatable choices” – “taking a position that will bring down some opposition in the streets and charges of being a flunky” of the US. With that in mind, the government is trying to continue its investigations as quietly as possible.

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com.  He is based in London, England.