Former Terrorist Convict Talks on Radicalism Seeds in Campus

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former terrorist convict Yudi Zulfahri said that radical idea that is heavily linked to terrorism originates from intolerance. He further claims that the seeds of radicalism can be seen at pengajian or religious study at the mosque in universities.

“The seeds [of radicalism]; its foundation is from campuses,” said Yudi in Makassar on Thursday, September 6. 

According to Yudi, radical ideas are easily influenced among college students considering their nature to think critically and has the tendency to rebel, which is easily indoctrinated by radical ideas. “The main target is young people,” said Yudi.

Read: Ministry Admits Campus Susceptible to Spread Radicalism

He reflected on his experience in 2006 when he participated in a religious study (pengajian) session every week. He heard rumors that the group does not respect any opinions other than their own, and would brand a person a deviate if someone does not align with their opinion.

In 2010, Yudi returned to Aceh to study further about religion; “There is a sense of rebellion against the government. That was when I became radical,” he said. Yudi followed it up by joining with the terrorist group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah. 

“There were 100 people but that was considered enough amount to fight against the government,” Yudi revealed.

Back at the time, he decided to resign from his position as a civil servant (PNS) and decided to join a terrorist group before studying the Arabic language in Makassar for six months. He warned that preventions have a significant role and that it would be extremely difficult to escape radicalism once a person is already influenced.

DIDIT HARIYADI