SUMMARY
Laskar Jihad (also known as Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah: Army of Jihad: Holy War Warriors: Community of the Prophet) was an Islamic extremist paramilitary organization based in Java, Indonesia. It was established in March 2000, as the militant wing of Forum Komunikasi Ahllus Sunna Wal Jamaah (FKAWJ); an Islamic umbrella organization that had been emerging during the 1990s but was only officially established in January 2000 in response to the Muslim casualties arising from the non-state conflict between Christians and Muslims in the Maluku islands of East Indonesia.
Several prominent Salafis formed Laskar Jihad to originally protect the public activities of FKAWJ. However, under its Commander-in-Chief, Jaffar Umar Thalib, this broadened to protecting Muslims from Christians and spreading Sharia Law. Thalib had experienced a zealous Islamic upbringing in Indonesia and pursued studies into Islam in both Pakistan and Yemen. He had also fought as part of a number of Afghan mujahid factions in Afghanistan. To assert his leadership authority and mobilize fighters, Thalib utilized fatwas from the Middle East to contend that armed jihad was necessary to respond to a Zionist conspiracy being played out in Maluku.
Quickly, Laskar Jihad accumulated 10 000 members. From this, 2000 members immediately began training at the Laskar Jihad military training camp in Java. Organized with a strict military structure, some senior members also received training abroad in Afghanistan. Consequently, more than 2000 fighters began arriving in the Maluku islands in May 2000 to support Muslims in their sectarian struggle against Christians, which had broken out in 1999. As a result, the conflict in Maluku entered a new phase with greater aggression being exhibited by local Muslims from Maluku as well as the violence against civilians perpetrated by Laskar Jihad. Most Laskar Jihad fighters were unskilled yet they asserted their presence by initiating riots in the street as well as by undertaking social and religious issues directly by establishing Islamic schools and preaching door-to-door. Laskar Jihad also transported weapons separately for fighters to pick up in Maluku. Between 2000 and 2002, Laskar Jihad claimed that more than 7000 fighters in total travelled to Maluku to support its cause. It also attempted to widen its reach by sending fighters to Sulawesi but this failed to take hold.
In 2001 and 2002, Jaffar Umar Thalib was arrested twice for multiple charges including inciting religious hatred and for the murder of one Laskar Jihad member, who had committed rape and was subsequently stoned to death due to a strict rajm sentence being enforced. Despite having no collaboration with Jemaah Islamiya, Laskar Jihad disbanded in October 2002, shortly after the Bali bombing carried out by Jemaah Islamiya occurred. Its dissolution resulted from internal factionalism and the demise of its leader, Jaffar Umar Thalib. Following this, the charges against Thalib were later dropped.
Within Indonesia, Laskar Jihad was linked to members of the political and military elite, including the ex-President of Indonesia and military leader, Muhammad Suharto. Internationally, it was linked to several countries especially Saudi Arabia and the Salafi da´wa network. It was also linked to al-Qaida and Usama bin Laden, although this connection was denied by Jaffar Umar Thalib.
