Political Geography: Bali / Topic: Terrorism

Author:: Ali Muhammad and Ali Maksum
Publication Date:: 01-2022
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: Revista UNISCI/UNISCI Journal
Institution:: Unidad de investigación sobre seguridad y cooperación (UNISCI)
Abstract:: This article tries to examine what terrorists think about their actions. Why did they do the violent action? What are inside their mind? How did they justify their violence? This article tries to answer the question by focusing on three main perpetrators of the Bali bombers 2002, i.e. Imam Samudra, Ali Ghufron and Ali Imron. Except Imron who was sentenced to life imprisonment, Samudra and Ghufron has been sentenced to death by Indonesian authority. The authors analyze their mind by reading the texts written by these three bombers and trying to understand and explain its context. This research reveals that the bombers had different understanding of the religious teachings. Samudra and Ghufron believe that their action is based on the true understanding and true depiction of implementation of jihad in Islam. Ali Imron, who previously had the similar believe, was repentant and believed that their action was based on unjustified interpretations of jihad teaching in Islam.
Topic:: Terrorism, Radicalization, Memoir, and Jihad
Political Geography:: Indonesia and Bali

Author:: Jacques Bertrand and Jessica Doedirgo
Publication Date:: 03-2016
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Abstract:: Although the January 2016 Sarinah mall attacks in Jakarta demonstrate the need for continued vigilance, this paper argues that Islamic extremism and fundamentalism are not on the rise in Indonesia. In fact, Islamic extremism in Indonesia reached its height in the early 2000s, with radicalized groups participating in religious conflicts in Eastern Indonesia and carrying out large-scale terrorist attacks, such as the bombings in Bali in 2002. Since then, the capacity of the security apparatus has markedly improved, leading to the crippling of terrorist networks. Today, the majority of Islamists engage in above-ground non-violent activities and pose little threat to the country’s stability. This paper views fundamentalism and extremism as symptoms of broader problems in Indonesia, and argues that addressing these issues should help to further reduce the problems of religious fundamentalism and extremism.
Topic:: Security, Political Violence, Islam, Terrorism, Sectarian violence, and Violent Extremism
Political Geography:: Indonesia and Bali

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