Why President Jokowi Orders Release of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir

TEMPO.CO, Bogor – Yusril Ihza Mahendra, a legal attorney for the Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin presidential ticket, has announced a presidential order on the planned release of terror convict Abu Bakar Ba'asyir—the leader of Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid. 

“Today I want to announce President Jokowi’s intent on releasing Abu Bakar Ba'asyir from prison,” said Yusril Ihza during a Friday prayer he led at the Gunung Sindur Penitentiary, where Baasyir is currently being held. 

According to Yusril, President Jokowi decided to release Ba'asyir on the grounds of compassion and humanity regarding the 81-year-old prisoner's declining health. 

“I first spoke to Abu Bakar and delivered [his message] to the president,” Yusril said. 

Yusril said Abu Bakar Ba'asyir had welcomed the presidential order and said he would do nothing but rest—including not receiving any visitor or delivering sermons—upon his planned release. 

Read: Govt Rejects House Arrest Request for Abu Bakar Ba'asyir

It has been confirmed that Abu Bakar Ba'asyir will get out of prison this week and reside in Solo, Central Java. 

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir has spent nine years behind bars in total. He was first sent to Nusakambangan but later transferred to Gunung Sindur in 2016 on deteriorating health. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for organizing people in using funds for terrorism. 

ADE RIDWAN YANDWIPUTRA (CONTRIBUTOR)