IDNtribune.com – After 31 years since its formation, Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) has officially disbanded. Key figures and members of JI have pledged their allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia, marking a significant shift in the group’s stance. The disbandment was first declared on June 30, 2024, in Bogor, West Java.

On Thursday, August 8, 2024, in Poso, and Friday, August 9, 2024, in Palu, Central Sulawesi, 180 JI members recited the “Poso Declaration” and “Palu Declaration,” formally announcing the group’s dissolution and their commitment to the Indonesian state.

The declarations were witnessed by the Regional Task Force Head of the Special Detachment 88 Anti-terror unit and and several other personnel.

Among the senior JI leaders present were Yasir Abdul Barr, also known as Aslam, and Utsman Hedar bin Saef, known as Fahim.

Aslam stated that the disbandment was a result of extensive internal reviews after 31 years of observing JI’s developments.

“Jamaah Islamiyah has primarily been engaged in religious and social activities, conducted openly, as well as in military training, known as tadrib asykari, aimed at building military strength. Although there was no official fatwa for this, we observed that such activities were moving towards resistance against the state, diverging from the directives of the group’s senior leaders. This shift, particularly actions taken by elements from Malaysia in Indonesia, prompted us to reconsider our stance,” Aslam explained.

He noted that these movements resulted in casualties among Muslims themselves, affecting their social and religious work.

“We realized that these actions had a detrimental impact on our outreach, educational, and social efforts, harming the Muslim community. This led the founders and senior members to review our activities and conclude that revisions were necessary. We recognized that this country was established by scholars who led it to independence, and as their descendants, we should continue their legacy,” added the leader, now residing in Boyolali.

To disseminate this decision, several JI leaders have toured more than 10 cities, engaging in dialogue and spreading this new understanding.

“We have traveled to over 10 cities in Indonesia, including Poso and Palu in Central Sulawesi, to promote this new perspective. JI has approximately 6,000 members nationwide, and representatives from some of these areas have joined us in this effort,” Ustadz Fahim added.

Looking ahead, he urged JI members to learn from national scholars who understand the country’s founding process, emphasizing that the nation’s creation by scholars symbolizes representation of the broader Muslim community.

“We hope to reconnect with all our brothers across Indonesia over the next few months, or by December 2024 at the latest,” he expressed.

The disbandment in Central Sulawesi is part of a series of dissolutions, following the declaration made in Sentul, Bogor, on June 30, 2024.

Key Points of the ‘Poso Declaration’ and ‘Palu Declaration’

In these declarations, senior JI figures and their members collectively expressed their return to the Republic of Indonesia and announced the dissolution of JI.

The key points of the declarations include:

  • Former members of Al-Jamaah Al-Islamiyah in Central Sulawesi and surrounding areas declared their support for the disbandment, as decided by their leaders in Bogor on June 30, 2024.
  • They pledged to rejoin the Republic of Indonesia, actively contribute to the nation’s development, and distance themselves from radical ideologies and groups.
  • They committed to adhering to the laws of the Republic of Indonesia and vowed to consistently uphold these principles. “May Allah bless this decision,” they stated.

Following the reading of the loyalty oath to Indonesia, under the banner of the “Palu Declaration,” the members sang the national anthem, “Indonesia Raya.”

“This Palu Declaration is our commitment to obey the leaders of Jamaah Islamiyah who have announced the group’s disbandment,” Ustadz Fahim affirmed.

The process of deradicalization, intensively conducted by authorities over the past few years, appears to have yielded positive results. Former JI members, now committed to renouncing radical ideologies, have participated in various training and educational programs aimed at reintegrating them into society.

A former JI member, who requested anonymity, acknowledged that the decision to disband was made with full awareness of the negative impacts of their past actions.

“We realized that what we did in the past was wrong, and now it is time to correct those mistakes by contributing positively to this country,” he stated.

The disbandment of JI in Central Sulawesi is expected to set a precedent for other groups still active in different regions of Indonesia. The Indonesian government, along with law enforcement, continues to strive to ensure that radical movements no longer find a foothold in the country.

This dissolution marks a new chapter in Indonesia’s fight against terrorism and serves as a significant symbol for former JI members determined to build a more peaceful and harmonious future. ***