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Indonesian militant heads to Iraq
By Amy Chew
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- A radical Indonesian Muslim leader who called for a jihad against America in Iraq, has slipped out of the world's largest Muslim country. Habib Rizieq Shihab headed for Jordan en route to Baghdad while under house arrest in connection with several incidents of vandalism. Rizieq is the leader of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), a group famed over the past three years for attacking nightspots frequented by foreigners which they deem as "sinful places". Last week, Rizieq was twice summoned for questioning by police in connection with an attack on a discotheque and two billiard centers by 400 FPI members on October 4 which injured two people. He is also alleged to have made offensive statements against the government and insulted government officials. If convicted, he faces a maximum jail term of seven years. An FPI official told CNN Rizieq had gone to Jordan en route to Baghdad on a humanitarian mission with the Indonesian Red Crescent. "I believe he should have arrived in Iraq by now," Ahmad Shabri Lubis, FPI secretary-general, told CNN. "He is there on a humanitarian mission which was planned some time back. He had no intention at all to run away from the law and will return to fulfil the police's summon," Lubis added. Asked why Rizieq had not informed police of his departure, Lubis replied:"Because this is an emergency mission which involves many lives and he considered it to be very important and probably forgot to inform the police before leaving." A police official told CNN Interpol had been contacted to look for Rizieq. "He flew to Kuala Lumpur on April 8. We have asked Interpol to help us locate him," a police official told CNN. Rizieq's was arrested on October 16, four days after the devastating Bali blast which killed more than 200 last year in what was viewed as a government crackdown on militant groups. Prior to that, FPI had generally operated with impunity. Rizieq was later released and placed under house arrest in November. The same month, FPI froze all their activities. While FPI is a minority in Indonesia where the majority of Muslims are moderates, their loud rhetoric and violent raids against entertainment centers cause unease and generate negative publicity for the country. The group emerged again when the war in Iraq broke out, urging Muslims to sign up to fight Americans in Iraq and brandished posters during demonstrations calling for people to search and expel Americans from Indonesia. FPI's Lubis said several FPI members had already gone to Iraq to wage a jihad. "More than 10 people have gone to Iraq. Others will follow, depending on the situation and funds available," said Lubis.
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