15 June 2006
Bali bombings God's will: Bashir
THOSE killed in the 2002 Bali bombings had been destined to die by God, radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir said today.
The families they have left behind should now convert to Islam, he said.
Conversion would give the bereaved relatives "salvation and peace".
For the Bali bomb families, those who are non-Muslims, my suggestion is just convert to Islam so they can be saved and find some peace from Allah," he said at his home inside his Ngruki Islamic boarding school near the city of Solo in Central Java.
Bashir was released from a Jakarta jail yesterday after serving 25 months for his association with the 2002 Bali bomb blasts, that killed 202 people among them 88 Australians.
But he denies any involvement in terrorism or allegations that he is the spiritual head of militant group Jemaah Islamiah.
He said the families of the dead should understand that they were killed by bombs, not bombers, and that it was "God's will".
Earlier Bashir called on Australian Prime Minister John Howard to convert to Islam or face eternity in hell.
This story is from our news.com.au network
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