he alleged mastermind of the 2016 Thamrin suicide bombings in Central Jakarta, Aman Abdurrahman, is the most prominent Islamic State (IS) movement ideologue in Indonesia, an expert witness said on Tuesday.
A researcher from the University of Indonesia’s Center for Terrorism Studies and Social Conflict, Solahudin, told the South Jakarta District Court that Aman was a source of knowledge for terrorist groups affiliated with the IS.
“The defendant is considered to be the most knowledgeable of IS ideology,” Solahudin said during a court hearing.
He added that Aman was also known as the author of a book series on tawhid (the oneness of God), which had been used as a guideline for terrorist groups.
“I began to hear his name in 2003, that there was someone new in jihadist groups, a smart one,” Solahudin said as quoted by tempo.co.
Aman was previously found guilty of masterminding a bombing in Cimanggis, Depok, West Java, in 2004 along with nine other people. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. He also reportedly grew popular among extremist groups after translating the works of jihadist Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi.
In 2010, Aman faced imprisonment over his alleged involvement in the funding of terrorist group exercises in Aceh. (wnd)
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