Malaysians Linked to 2002 Bali Bombings Return After 18 Years in Guantanamo Bay

Source: The Rakyat Post

IGP Razarudin Husain confirmed that the pair would undergo rehabilitation before reintegrating into society.

Two Malaysians, who were involved in the deadly 2002 Bali bombings, have returned to Malaysia after spending 18 years at the U.S. military detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

According to Inspector General of Police, Razarudin Husain, Mohamed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep arrived back in Malaysia on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, in good health and eagerly reunited with their families. The pair had been detained for nearly two decades after pleading guilty to charges related to the Bali bombings, which killed over 200 people.

The Malaysian authorities stated that both would undergo “comprehensive rehabilitation” and an assessment process before being reintegrated into society.

A Long Road from Guantanamo Bay

According to the Pentagon, Farik and Nazir were cooperative during their time in detention, providing testimony against Encep Nurjaman, also known as Hambali, the alleged mastermind behind the Bali bombings. Encep remains in Guantanamo Bay, awaiting pre-trial hearings that are set to resume in January 2024, not only for his involvement in the Bali attack but also for his role in a 2003 bombing in Jakarta.

The Deadly 2002 Bali Bombings

The 2002 Bali bombings, which occurred on October 12 in the Kuta district of Bali, Indonesia, are considered one of Southeast Asia’s most devastating terrorist attacks. Three bombs exploded, targeting two popular nightclubs—Paddy’s Pub and Sari Club—in an effort to strike at Western targets. The attack, which was carried out by Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), an Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, resulted in over 200 deaths and hundreds more injuries.

The motive behind the attack was reportedly revenge for Israel’s actions in Palestine, particularly an assault on the Jenin refugee camp earlier that year. According to former JI member Umar Patek, the group targeted these locations in response to the perceived oppression of Muslims.

Umar Patek, who was responsible for constructing the bombs, was arrested in 2011 and later convicted for his role in the bombings.

JI and Its Ongoing Influence

At the time of the attacks, Encep, Farik, and Nazir were all members of Jemaah Islamiyah. Encep was serving as the military leader of the group, which was founded in the early 1990s with the aim of establishing an Islamic state across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the southern Philippines, and southern Thailand. JI was formed with strong ties to Al-Qaeda, and its members underwent training in Afghanistan and the southern Philippines.The group’s existence became more apparent after the 9/11 attacks, when authorities in Singapore disrupted a JI cell plotting an attack on U.S. Navy targets. Since then, Southeast Asian governments have been actively combating JI through security cooperation, arrests, and counter-radicalization efforts.