Supporters demand release of Ba'asyir

JAKARTA: Around 50 supporters of terror suspect Abu Bakar Ba'asyir rallied outside the Supreme Court building in Central Jakarta on Monday to demand the release of the Muslim cleric.

The people claimed the ongoing trial of Ba'asyir failed to prove his link to bomb attacks in Bali in 2002 and the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in 2003 as charged by the prosecutors.

They branded the prosecutors' demand for an eight-year jail term for the cleric for his alleged role in the hotel bombing as a contrivance to please the United States and its allies.

The protesters, from several organizations, including the Forum of Solidarity for Ba'asyir's Release, the Indonesian Muslim Student Alliance (KAMMI), the Indonesian Mujahiddin Council, Hizbut Tahrir, Al-Irsyad and the Indonesian Muslim Students (HMI), rallied in front of the South Jakarta District Court earlier in the day.

The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on Thursday. -- Antara