Indonesians lament jihadist's wasted life

A young East Java man dies in Iraq after going there for jihad.

By Andhika Bhakti for Khabar Southeast Asia in Lamongan, East Java

March 14, 2014
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The recent death in Iraq of an Indonesian allegedly there to wage holy war, is another example of a young life thrown away, Indonesians say.

  • Anti-government fighters aim weapons as they hold a position in Fallujah, Iraq on January 21st. Indonesian Wildan Mukhollad bin Lasmin, a 19-year-old jihadist, reportedly was killed in Iraq in early February. [AFP]

    Anti-government fighters aim weapons as they hold a position in Fallujah, Iraq on January 21st. Indonesian Wildan Mukhollad bin Lasmin, a 19-year-old jihadist, reportedly was killed in Iraq in early February. [AFP]

Wildan Mukhollad bin Lasmin, a 19-year-old from Lamongan, East Java, was reported killed in Iraq in February after travelling there and to neighbouring Syria to take up the jihadist cause. The exact cause of his death was not reported.

"As a mother, I want to see more of our youth go abroad, study hard in school, and get a good degree and a good job. To see them go to war is very saddening," Sumiati, a 47-year-old resident of Wildan's hometown, told Khabar Southeast Asia, when asked to comment about the report.

"We can do jihad in Islam in a different way than war," she said.

Who was Wildan?

Wildan studied at Lamongan's Al Islam boarding school for three years, according to Noor Huda Ismail, executive director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Peace Building.

"After graduating from Al Islam, Wildan joined his brother who was studying at Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. In Cairo, Wildan was able to get connected with the Iraqi jihad movement," Noor Huda told Khabar by phone.

Wildan reportedly signed up with the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and fought against Syrian government forces in Aleppo before crossing into Iraq, the Jakarta globe reported on February 20th.

While at school in Lamongan, Wildan studied under Ali Fauzi, an instructor, former militant and the younger brother of 2002 Bali bombers Amrozi and Ali Ghufron.

"I didn't know that he decided to leave the country and head to Syria to become a suicide bomber," Ali, who says he has renounced radicalism, told Khabar. "He disappeared nearly a year ago."

Level of Indonesia jihadist involvement

Details remain sketchy about just how many Indonesians are fighting in Syria and Iraq.

In February, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimated some 50 Indonesian jihadists were in Syria.

In response to a question of how many Indonesians were travelling to Syria to join foreign fighters and extremist groups in the region, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told a February 17th news conference in Jakarta there was "no way of verifying the data".

"I have been hearing– we have been hearing-- information or suggestions that there are some who have gone to Syria to be involved in the conflict. Obviously, it's not something that we condone. Our message to them is not to involve themselves in such activities and that they must return back," Marty said, according to a transcript.

Reader Comments
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    • cep
      June 27, 2014 @ 04:06:30AM
    • Glorious is God. Your martyrdom will not be in vain. Heaven is the guarantee.
    • fulan
      June 17, 2014 @ 08:06:20AM
    • May Allah accept Wildan into Allah's heaven and receive 72 angels as has been promised. Amin.
    • jaga abilawa
      April 28, 2014 @ 02:04:23AM
    • "Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 216)
    • boyjell
      April 22, 2014 @ 10:04:09AM
    • Long live jihad.
    • cristian paulina
      April 19, 2014 @ 05:04:10AM
    • It is because of jihad that Islam controls the world. Allah's promise in the end times: "A worldwide caliphate will be established through the path of jihad".
    • April 13, 2014 @ 05:04:10PM
    • Jihad is a sin according to the Christian religion unless we die while spreading the gospel of truth, that is a noble death. OK, God bless you.
    • ABDUL WADUD AT TUSYI
      April 8, 2014 @ 07:04:44PM
    • Much respect, Wildan's destiny was to be there. It is better than having youths die from narcotics or places of prostitiution. May Wildan be blessed by Allah SWT at his side and receive rewards from Allah SWT, Amin!
    • suwinanto
      April 7, 2014 @ 09:04:57AM
    • Then, let us go together to Iraq for jihad to die as long as we could enter paradise.
    • nazar lat
      April 19, 2014 @ 05:04:05AM
    • The shallowness of knowledge and the deficiency of reason is truly baffling. Jihad is not like going to a party. Only those who are chosen by Allah Suhanahuwataala will answer the call to jihad. Entering paradise is not as easy as entering an entertainment center. Many things have to be learned and a lot of religious knowledge need to be acquired and understood, especially concerning Islamic beliefs.
    • Muslim Sejati
      April 7, 2014 @ 09:04:40AM
    • Now this is what we call a true Muslim. Lead a noble life or die a martyr. Allah is great!
    • Harry Sudjikianto
      April 3, 2014 @ 05:04:28AM
    • Why is it that in this day and age there are still those with stunted minds, ready and willing to die stupidly? Being constantly in a state of heightened emotion is no way to live a noble life in the eyes of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad. Perhaps the Prophet weeps each time He sees His people die in vain and leading less than noble lives. Perhaps we need clerics who truly abide by the mandates of Allah and the Prophet to teach how to live a noble life.
    • gess amaradja
      April 2, 2014 @ 04:04:44AM
    • There are many ways to carry out jihad in Islam. Jihad does not require one to go to war, let alone waging war against fellow Muslims.. Teenagers like Wildan are just victims of misguided fanaticism.
    • bambang indratno
      March 30, 2014 @ 11:03:25AM
    • Islam must be defended until death. Shia is an infidel religion that does not recognize the friends of the Prophet and jihad is the path to destroy Shia.
    • suwinanto
      April 7, 2014 @ 09:04:08AM
    • I agree. If necessary, send all the young people over there to carry out jihad.
    • rakhil
      April 17, 2014 @ 12:04:20AM
    • i think so
    • fida
      March 30, 2014 @ 04:03:50AM
    • We are all feeling the loss, but on the other hand we are proud of our brother Wildan. He was still young but chose to go to war for jihad, not another method which people would hate. May he receive Allah's paradise, Amin.
    • bambang indratno
      March 29, 2014 @ 07:03:35AM
    • Do not be mistaken, they will never die but they live forever in Allah's embrace, long live Islam! Jihad is the best way to paradise - don't think that they die in vain. Those who do not want to carry out jihad to defend fellow Muslims are the ones who die in vain.
    • ifa
      March 26, 2014 @ 06:03:31AM
    • What we must keep in mind is that there is a reason behind every action. It is not good to look at a problem from one side only. Wildan must have had his reason for doing this. God willing, it was his love for Allah. May he be given entrance to His heaven. Amen.
    • Mye Gucci
      March 24, 2014 @ 09:03:14PM
    • Oh, the news is from Iraq, there's not even one outside source, what is going on? This is a hoax.
    • fida
      March 30, 2014 @ 04:03:24AM
    • This news is real, Wildan is my relative.
    • umarov
      March 24, 2014 @ 01:03:14PM
    • Good, that's what I call a true Muslim.
    • janggo
      March 22, 2014 @ 07:03:08AM
    • Wasted lives of youth? It is ironic when in Indonesia there are many bad incidents that no one talks about.
    • zaenal
      March 21, 2014 @ 11:03:50PM
    • What I lament more is how the Indonesian youth prefer to party, fight, and go to clubs. Dying in jihad would be more noble for them.
    • ingusan
      March 29, 2014 @ 11:03:43AM
    • Agreed! The more of them leave the better. Better that than having them create terror in the country.
    • Andi
      March 21, 2014 @ 12:03:00PM
    • I hope it becomes jihad fisabilillah...accepted by Allah SWT, Amin. Continue the struggle to uphold Allah's religion on Earth.
    • Soleh
      March 21, 2014 @ 04:03:30AM
    • A mother should be happy to see her child carry out jihad to defend the Islamic religion.
    • fida
      March 30, 2014 @ 04:03:28AM
    • The one who wrote the comment is not his mother.
    • resaresi
      April 1, 2014 @ 07:04:22AM
    • Jihad? Okay, in Java, there are many frail old people with no one to bury them when they die as if they were animals.
    • Deden
      March 20, 2014 @ 09:03:06AM
    • Allahu Akbar ... Wildan is a martyr, Insya Allah.
    • Jeki
      March 20, 2014 @ 04:03:11AM
    • The struggle of Muslim intellectuals is still a long way from what we are hoping for.
    • Dedi Setiawan
      March 20, 2014 @ 02:03:54AM
    • Jihad is a part of Islam. While his body may have been killed, God willing his spirit will be welcomed by Allah SWT.
    • hamzah
      March 19, 2014 @ 11:03:11PM
    • Be at peace, Wildan bin Lasmin, you have exchanged your world with His heaven. How beautiful it must be to join Allah's martyrs.
    • syailif
      March 18, 2014 @ 07:03:36AM
    • There should be initial critical analysis before entering into a case, perhaps there are more political motives "not to seem ridiculous".
    • asep amin nasrudin
      March 16, 2014 @ 09:03:38PM
    • We have to better understand the meaning of jihad itself to prevent people from misunderstanding it to mean war and taking up arms against enemies. The Prophet preached for the return from jihad asgor to jihad akbar which is fighting the desires within us. Don't give in to good intentions that are bad in the eyes of Allah (no rewards).
    • abas
      April 1, 2014 @ 05:04:36AM
    • Why bring false Hadith into this? What is happening?
    • Ahmed
      March 16, 2014 @ 10:03:04AM
    • Palestine is clearly being oppressed by zionist Israel and nobody cares for the jihadists, taking pride in killing Muslims in Syria, they are truly terrorists.
    • bambang indratno
      March 29, 2014 @ 07:03:20AM
    • You are wrong, Mr. Ahmad. Syria is a Shia country. The Shia are not Muslims but are infidels. Their Shia has damaged Islam.
    • asep kurnia
      March 16, 2014 @ 07:03:00AM
    • I like and dislike it at the same time. I like it because the spirit of jihad grows in his heart and I am sure that he did this for Allah's blessing. I don't agree with this because in Indonesia there are many opportunities to undertake jihad such as the fact that many people still need the teachings of knowledgeable people like Wildan.
    • Natu
      March 15, 2014 @ 02:03:00PM
    • Hoax.
    • Thoriq
      March 14, 2014 @ 11:03:01PM
    • Glory be to Allah.... Theirs is the best choice but also the worst. They have chosen to help their brothers in Iraq to fight against the Shia rulers even though many hypocrites and infidels in this country label them as terrorists. May Allah give guidance to more Muslim youths to undertake jihad.

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