Dad chose the wrong jihad: sons of Abu Bakar Bashir create own jihadist group
Militant Abu Bakar Bashir alienates two sons with his allegiance to Islamic State, prompting them to form their own jihadist organisation
Jihadist spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir's influence over Southeast Asia's militants could be on the wane, after his sons denounced his allegiance to Islamic State, a group so brutal even al-Qaeda severed ties with them.
"On this matter of Islamic State, I have parted ways with my father," Abdul Rohim, Bashir's youngest son, told the South China Morning Post in a phone interview from Indonesia.
There must be around 5,000 Islamic State members in Indonesia now
"I don't support him on Islamic State. Maybe on some other matters too. But as my father, of course I support him," Rohim added.
Bashir, 76, is the spiritual leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah group blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings. In 2008, he founded the splinter group Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT). He is currently serving a 15-year jail sentence for terrorism offences.
Malaysian police say the teachings of Bashir and another convicted Indonesian militant, Aman Abdurrahman, inspired Malaysians to travel to Syria to join Islamic State.
"Many were influenced by the teachings of Abu Bakar Bashir to go to Syria. He is very extreme and influential," a senior Malaysian police source said.