Ali Imron, serving a life sentence for his involvement in the 2002 Bali bombing, is appealing for a presidential pardon, expressing a desire to be released to contribute to deradicalisation initiatives across Indonesia.

Imron, 54, has served 21 years in prison for his role in the bombings that claimed 202 lives on the Indonesian island of Bali, including 88 Australians and 38 Indonesians.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post (SCMP), where he disclosed his hopes for a pardon from Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Imron conveyed his weariness, stating, "I don’t want to be released purely for personal reasons. I want to be free so that I can work on deradicalisation programmes across Indonesia. From a personal point of view, I am better off inside where there is no risk to my life."

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Convicted Bali bomber Ali Imron. Imron has said he is seeking a presidential pardon in Indonesia over his role in the 2002 Bali bombings which targeted Kuta’s nightclub district. Photograph: Bay Ismoyo/AFP/Getty Images

He emphasized the continued existence of Jemaah Islamiyah, the terrorist group responsible for the Bali attack, and the potential threat it poses to the public. Imron stressed the limitations of his impact from within prison, urging the need to alert people against planning further attacks.

While incarcerated, Imron has actively participated in government deradicalisation initiatives, including speaking at schools to caution against extremism. The Indonesian government has integrated such deradicalisation efforts with security measures as part of its counter-terrorism strategy.

Imron, a former Islamic boarding school teacher, received his sentence in 2003 at the age of 33 for assembling and transporting explosives used in the Bali attack. He stood out among the defendants by expressing remorse.

His older brothers, Amrozi bin Nurhasyim and Ali Ghufron, along with Imam Samudra, were sentenced to death for justifying the bombings as necessary to avenge the treatment of Muslims by the US and Israel.

A potential pardon for Imron may trigger controversy in Australia, home to numerous victims of the Bali attack.

Umar Patek, imprisoned in 2012 for his role in creating bombs used in the Bali nightclub bombings, was granted parole in December 2022, sparking discontent in Australia, particularly among the families of victims. The Australian government expressed deep concern and sought assurances from Indonesia regarding Patek's ongoing supervision and monitoring.

 

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