Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), at its existence was renowned for having loose coordination despite its complexity of their structure and rank. Although the networks penetrate into district and sub-district levels, they are loosely coordinated, and often there are cases of fragmentation. Among many of its branches, there was a branch renowned for its extremism, FPILamongan branch (FPI Lamongan), which had a linked and strong relationship withDr. Azahari andNoordin M. Top, bothMalaysian terrorist kingpin.
Zainal Anshori, then National Leader of JAD, was head of FPI Lamongan of 2005–2008 period. He was appointed byMuhammad Rizieq Shihab himself to lead FPI Lamongan. Prior the appointment, he was renowned as Islamic activist that moved independently to commit sweepings with his group, against undesirables and un-Islamic elements. After that, FPI Lamongan actively committed sweepings. However, everything changed when the branch involved withJamaah Islamiyah, and subsequent contact with Aman Abdurrahman[id], an Islamic militant, along with the deaths of Dr. Azahari and Noordin M. Top. Starting from there, FPI Lamongan shifted away toIslamic extremism.[11] Affected with Islamic extremism ideology, FPI Lamongan used an extreme approach of imposing the Islamic doctrine ofamr ma'ruf nahy munkar (enjoining good and forbidding wrong). They also often used excessive force. On 10 August 2008, Muhammad Rizieq Shihab personally warned FPI Lamongan, following a brutal attack against analcohol seller during a sweeping.[12] Due to its extreme way and acts, FPI Lamongan was disavowed by central leadership of FPI on request of East Java Regional FPI around 2010. Despite that, sympathizers remained, and in 2013 the sympathizers of the disavowed branch clashed with Lamongan locals.[13][14]
In his confession made 9 February 2021, Zainal Anshori stated that the seed of what would become JAD had come into being during this period. The element that subsequently evolved into JAD was integrated during his leadership of FPI Lamongan on 2005.[15] What happened to this element after FPI Lamongan being disavowed is unclear.
2014–2018: Becoming JAD and active as organization
Aman Abdurrahman was recaptured by law enforcement for his involvement on trainingJAT terrorists inJantho (Aceh) in 2010 and assisting escape ofDulmatin, one of the2002 Bali bombings perpetrator with Azahari and Noordin. Soon after announcement of formation ofISIL byAbu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, he pledged his allegiance to him in June 2014 during his incarceration at Kembang Kuning Detention House,Nusakambangan Island. He later drafted a concept of organization that will support ISIS in Indonesia. Sometime later Zainal Anshori and Marwan visited him. In November 2014, JAD formed followed amajlis ta'lim inBatu.[16] In thatmajlis ta'lim, Aman Abdurrahman become the Spiritual Leader of the group, Marwan become the National Emir, Zainal Anshori become the Emir of East Java, others have each specific posts established.[17]
On 21 June 2018,Joko Widodo signed Law No. 5 of 2018, as amendment of Law No. 15 of 2003 (Law on Anti-Terrorism Acts). The law granted much sweeping powers for law enforcement to capture terrorists and suspected terrorists.[18] With the new law, even membership of announced terrorist organization enough to capture its member.[19]
On 31 July 2018, aSouth Jakarta court made a ruling. The ruling, known as South Jakarta District Court Ruling No. 809/Pid.Sus/2018/PN JKT.SEL outlawed the organization, allowing the arrest of all its members and organizers.[20][21]
Even after disbandment, JAD still active clandestinely. After the disbandment,2019 Medan suicide bombing,2020 South Daha attack, and2021 Makassar cathedral bombing happened. Aside the attacks, Two members of the JAD were believed to have conducted the knife assault on security ministerWiranto on 10 October 2019, which resulted in Wiranto being hospitalized. Three other people, including a policeman, were stabbed and injured.[22]
It is still difficult to weed out JAD members, due to each cell of JAD are autonomous and do not have commanding figures and chain of command. Even each cell may not know each other. Due to being autonomous and have widespread presence across the country, the multiple attacks by JAD cells may happened in nearly same time, or even triggeringdomino effect which triggered with one act of one cell may happened.[23][24]
On 7 December 2022,Astana Anyar bombing – at around 8:20 AMWestern Indonesia Time (UTC+7), asuicide bombing incident occurred at anIndonesian National Police station in Astana Anyar district,Bandung,West Java. The attacker and one police officer were killed by the explosion, while 11 people were injured including 3 police officers.Identity of the perpetrator and his affiliation subsequently released by the Police 6 hours after the attack. Police GeneralListyo Sigit Prabowo, Chief of the Indonesian National Police, released that the perpetrator was affiliated to the JAD Bandung branch.[25][26][27] Between 2023 till 2025, the group is inactive.
JAD is the name of an umbrella organization of at least 24 groups that pledged allegiance to the caliph of ISIL,[10][28] but likely more than 24. These groups are:[29][30][31][32]
Jamaah Tauhid wal-Jihad (Congregation of Oneness and Jihad).
Majmu’ah al-Arkhabiliy (Archipelagian Groups), also was known asKatibah Nusantara Lid Daulah Islamiyah.[33] This group is not operated in Indonesia, but rather a JAD branch operated in Northern Syria regions and made up by Indonesian, Malaysian, and Filipino members.[29][33]
Katibah Al - Iman.
Forum Pendukung Daulah Islamiyah (Daulah Islamiyah Supporter Forum).
Forum Aktivis Syariat Islam (Islamic Sharia Activists Forum), or FAKSI.
Gerakan Mahasiswa untuk Syariat Islam (Student Movement for Islamic Sharia), or Gema Salam.
According to Dedy Tabrani (researcher from Indonesian Police College) and Aly Ashgor (researcher of Bhayangkara University), JAD leadership structure is as follows.[37]
Office of the Spiritual Leader of JAD
Office of the National Emirate of JAD
Office of the Secretary of JAD
Office of the Treasurer of JAD
Lajnah Tarbiyah (Education Institute, education and research wing of JAD)
Dauroh Manhaj (Ideological Training) Wing
Publishing Wing
Division of Information and Information Technology
Mas'ul-ate ofKalimantan (operated across Kalimantan Island)
Mas'ul-ate ofSulawesi (operated across Sulawesi Island)
Mas'ul-ate ofAmbon (operated across Eastern Indonesia)
Smaller sub-Mas'ul-ates ("Branches") may present in eachMas'ul-ate, however their establishment much independent and instantaneous, not under JAD central leadership direction. Any group present in a city that become sub-Mas'ul-ate may pledge themselves as part of JAD. Despite that, coordination between JAD branches to their respectiveMas'ul-ate existed to some degree.[37]
^Johnson, Kirk A. (2016).The longue duree: Indonesia's response to the threat of jihadist terrorism 1998–2016 (Thesis). Monterey, California:Naval Postgraduate School. pp. 76–77.hdl:10945/49499.
^abJawhar, Jasmine; Sariburaja, Kennimrod (2016).The Lahad Datu Incursion and its Impact on Malaysia Security. The Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT), Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. p. 16.ISBN978-983-44397-8-1.
