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February 29, 2012 Special Dispatch No. 4536

Reformed Indonesian Islamist Terrorist Nasir Abbas Tells His Life Story in Comics Book Designed to Combat Extremism

February 29, 2012
Special Dispatch No. 4536

Following are excerpts from a TV report on former Indonesian Islamist terrorist Nasir Abbas, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on October 28, 2011.


Nasir Abbas: "When I was a member of Al-Jama'a Al-Islamiyya, I got the position of a leader since April 2001, to be chief of region number three (which includes Indonesia and Malaysia). I want to tell the truth. I want to tell them (in this organization) that they are making a mistake. They are not waging Jihad. It does not matter that Abu Bakar Baashir says that the people who carry out the bombings are muhjahideen. I say that they are not muhjahideen, because they are not operating in the venue of Jihad or in the battlefield. They cannot be called muhjahideen, because they kill girls, women, and children, who are unarmed and are not enemies. How can they say they are fighting enemies? This makes no sense."

Narrator: "Seven years have passed since Abbas was released from prison. Today, he is documenting his experiences in a comic book, aimed at young men and women. Now I Understand the Meaning of Jihad is the title of Nashir Abbas' comic book, in which he talks about his personal experiences and the mistakes he made."

Nasir Abbas: "Many boys and girls do not like reading books, but they do like comics. They enjoy the pictures and drawings, and educational messages can be conveyed to them. This is what I've tried to do with my book."

Narrator: "Indonesian officials, especially security circles, have shown great interest. Indonesian security officials believe that the book could help them implement the security strategy formulated to counter extremism and violence. This strategy relies in part on enhancing general awareness, especially among youth."

[Children singing national anthem]

Narrator: "The book has quickly become an integral part in the curricula in some public and private schools. In this private school, in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, the book Now I Understand the Meaning of Jihad gives the students a new understanding during this basic stage of their schooling."

Female student: "I read the book in order to understand the real meaning of Jihad. Jihad means fighting for the sake of Allah, but some people have a wrong interpretation of Jihad. I think this book helped me understand the true meaning of Islam."

Narrator: "Official figures and independent studies recently published in Indonesia point to a drastic decline in the level of violence. The research identifies two reasons for this development: the first is the free democratic process in Indonesia, and the second is the policy of enhancing awareness, which targets the various sectors of society, with the cooperation of NGO's. The publishers of Now I Understand the Meaning of Jihad have distributed 10,000 free copies to government and private schools."

Interviewer: "Why did you decide to use your own life story to talk about the issue?"

Nasir Abbas: "I think there are three points that led me to write about my own life story. The first is that I left school at the age of 15, because I was academically weak. I say in my book: Don't leave school, like I did. The second point is the coexistence I experienced, as a Muslim, with Christians. In my book, I talk about two Christians who had an impact on me. The third point is that although I made a mistake, I managed to mend my ways and become a good person, able to return to the community, leaving his past behind. This is a call to anyone who associates with violent or extremist groups to think carefully and not to be ashamed to abandon this bad company and these erroneous beliefs, and to return to the community."


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