ISIS in Indonesia, Chep Hernawan says he’s the leader of their Islamic State chapter
Indonesia may be the next hotbed for Islamic State extremism as police detained a man claiming to be the leader of the Indonesian chapter of Sunni militants.
Police say they are unable to charge him with a crime as Chep Hernawan was released and will be monitored, says National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar.
“If they have no record of terrorism activities then they can’t be charged under our criminal law,” he said.
“The point is two points only. Keep fighting for the enforcement of Islamic law, which both stop struggles with a bomb in the Homeland,” Hernawan said of the goal for Islam via Kabarcianjur (Google translate)
Authorities noted that the nation is home to Southeast Asians believed to be fighting in Syria and Iraq. The country have be challenged by in influx of Islamic extremists as the government does not allow for detention without a trial or criminal charges. It also does not ban speech that could incite hatred and intolerance.
“For the first time since the 1990s and the Afghan jihad, Indonesians, Malaysians and other extremists in Southeast Asia are traveling abroad in an organized fashion to join a global militant movement, picking up battlefield skills and militant contacts,” writes Business Insider.
The terrorists linked to the 2002 Bali bombings were trained in Afghanistan, so some fear the radicals will travel and train with ISIS, returning to carry out revenge on westerners or sympathizers.
The United Nations Security Council last month adopted a resolution demanding member states prevent the recruitment and travel of people to join militant groups like IS.
Hernawan’s brief arrest has not stopped him from campaigning on behalf of the group or defending its actions, including the beheading of journalists and opposition forces.
“I’m convinced that these are religious acts based on Islamic teachings (permitting acts) that strike fear in the hearts of enemies of Islam,” he told The Associated Press recently at his white, colonial-style house.
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