British Islamist Backs al-Qaida on Indonesia Visit

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — The leader of an Islamist group banned in Britain praised Osama bin Laden while visiting Indonesia on Thursday and said attacks against Western targets in Muslim countries are justified. Anjem Choudary is in Indonesia to promote a book by Omar Bakri Mohammed, the founder of the extremist network Choudary leads that was banned earlier this year. He made the comments in front of around 80 people, many of them Islamist activists, at a discussion on the upcoming visit of U.S. President Barack Obama.
       
His remarks were radical by Indonesian standards but appeared unlikely to attract the attention of authorities, who are struggling against a resilient network of Muslim militants blamed for a series of bloody bombings in recent years.

“You may not want to hear this, but there are two camps in this world, the camp of Obama ... and the other camp which is led by Sheik Osama bin Laden, and they are the ones who are struggling for our lands to be liberated and defending the life and the honor and the property of the Muslims,” said Choudary, whose remarks were occasionally met with supportive cries of “God is Great!” from the audience.
       
Choudary said Islamic scriptures justified the bombing of Western targets inside Muslim countries. “I’m not one to argue with the evidence,” he said, citing teachings that bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders used to justify such attacks.
       
He also said Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was an apostate for not imposing Islamic law while arresting militants involved in a string of bombings in recent years.

“He is an enemy of Islam who has allied with the United States,” he said.  Choudary was the leader of Islam4UK until it was banned earlier this year by the British government for glorifying al-Qaida. Several people associated with the group have been linked to terrorist acts.
       
Choudary said the network was still active but declined to say whether it was going to regroup under a new name as it has done in the past.