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Bali Bombing Cleric Attacks Western Tourists


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The Telegraph (UK) Posted on 03/24/2008

 

Bali bombing cleric attacks western tourists.

 

Western tourists in Indonesia are "maggots, snakes and worms" who should be beaten up, the alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings has told hardline Islamic followers.

 

Abu Bakar Bashir, the cleric who was convicted of conspiracy over the Bali bombings but later cleared and released from prison after 26 months, said the island resort had been overrun by scantily-clad tourists who deserved to be attacked for their immorality.

 

"Worms, snakes, maggots... those are animals that crawl. Take a look at Bali... those infidel tourists. They are naked," he said.

 

Bashir, the alleged spiritual head of the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist organisation, made the comments in a speech to an Islamic youth organisation in eastern Java last October.

 

Tourists who are disrespectful of Islamic customs should be lynched, he said, adding: "If there are infidels here, then beat them up. Do not tolerate them."

 

The sermon was videotaped by an Australian university student who was conducting research into Islamic boarding schools in the region.

 

Bashir told his followers to reject Indonesian laws that contradicted Islamic law, and said that signs should be placed in Muslim areas to tell western tourists to dress modestly.

 

He also stated that young Indonesians should "aspire to a martyrdom death", adding: "The young must be first at the frontline - don't hide at the back. You must be at the front, die as martyrs and all your sins will be forgiven."

 

Analysts said the speech showed that Bashir had been emboldened by his release from prison.

 

The bomb attacks killed 202 people, including 26 Britons and 88 Australians. Despite a fall in visitor numbers afterwards, more than 70,000 Britons went to the island last year.

 

Stephen Smith, Australia's foreign minister, said: "The reported comments by Abu Bakar Bashir are consistent with his well-known views and nothing more than his familiar bigotry."

 

Mr Smith said that Australia continued to co-operate strongly with Indonesia on counter-terrorism.

 

However, the department of foreign affairs, advises Australians to think carefully before travelling to Indonesia, including Bali, due to a "very high" threat of terrorist attack.

 

Meanwhile. three of the convicted Bali bombers, who are languishing on death row, have edged closer to facing execution after their lawyer resigned.

 

The lawyer withdrew from a last-ditch appeal launched by Amrozi Nurhasyim, the so-called "smiling assassin", his brother Ali Ghufron (alias Mukhlas) and Iman Samudra.

 

The trio played key roles in the bombings and have already been convicted of terrorism.

 

Bashir has warned of retribution should they be executed by firing squad.

 

what's funny about this is, is that before the western colonisers arrived in Bali from Holland and imposed their Christian morals, all - or nearly all - of the women in Bali were walking around topless.

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