Terror in Indonesia: Suspected ISIS links

More than six people were killed in a series of attacks in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. More than ten people participated in the execution of the attack, mostly suicide bombers. President Joko Widodo made an urgent appeal to the nation.

It was inevitable

Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. In addition, it is the world's largest island nation, which is composed of diverse ethnic groups. Traditionally, in the country there are separatist and Islamist gangs that resort to terror. The the biggest terrorist attacks in Indonesian history were the Bali bombings in 2002. They killed 202 people.

The potential for terrorism

In Indonesia there are more than 200 million Muslims. This is 13% of the world's Muslim population. Since its independence in 1949, radical factions are fighting for the establishment of an Islamic state in Indonesia. The past few years have seen the rise of Islamic radicalism. In 2014 in Jakarta, demonstrations were held in support of ISIS. More than 500 Indonesians went to fight on the side of the terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

Possible ISIS involvement

In 2015, the Australian Attorney-General George Brandis said that ISIS tried to establish its branch more firmly in Indonesia. In December 2015, Indonesia announced that its security forces prevented a series of terrorist attacks planned for Christmas and New Year. According to authorities, the organizers were linked to ISIS.

ISIS is asserting itself

The largest terrorist organization in Indonesia is associated with Al-Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah, which advocates the establishment of an Islamic state in Southeast Asia in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines. Although it was reported that the founder and leader of this group, Abu Bakar Bashir, while prison took the oath of allegiance to ISIS, his sons denied this information. Representatives of the Jemaah Islamiyah and other Indonesian jihadists refuse to recognize
ISIS as the "Caliphate."

Through the intensification of terrorist activity, ISIS tends to attract the most radical part of Indonesian Muslims. The figure of only 500 extremists of the most populous Muslim country in the world indicates that the majority of radicals support local groups.

You are here

Terror in Indonesia: Suspected ISIS links