Stay calm, Indonesian Bashir backers told

Abu Bakar Bashir's lawyers have urged his supporters to stay calm at his court appearance next week, where he will make a bid to overturn terror charges.

Radical Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, center, escorted by Indonesian police as he arrive at Indonesian police headquaters in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Aug 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Irwin Ferdiansyah)

Radical Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, center, escorted by Indonesian police as he arrive at Indonesian police headquaters in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Aug 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Irwin Ferdiansyah) Source: AAP

Abu Bakar Bashir's lawyers have urged his supporters not to be provoked at his court appearance next week, fearing fights could break out with the radical cleric's detractors.

Bashir will appear in a Central Java court on Tuesday to apply for a judicial review of his 2011 conviction of supporting a terror training camp in Aceh.

He is serving 15 years on the prison island of Nusakambangan, where he was photographed in 2014 making a pledge to Islamic State.

His lawyers will bring five new witnesses - three of them were convicted after Bashir and are also jailed on the island.

His lawyer Mahendradatta says Bashir has "thousands" of supporters, some of whom have promised to attend court to give moral support only.

But he's also seen "hateful" social media comments urging the court to give their client the death sentence, and it doesn't want to be blamed if a "riot" breaks out.

"We encourage them not to make any distraction or moves that are considered against the law or against security," he said.

"Don't make any invitation or incitement to make chaos."

Bashir was the spiritual leader of the group behind the Bali bombings, but his conviction in relation to that deadly attack was overturned.

Lawyer Achmad Michdan said this time, his team would argue against the use of teleconference in Bashir's 2010 trial, which denied lawyers the ability to cross-examine some witnesses.

They say they can also demonstrate that Bashir gave funds believing they were for a Palestinian cause, and were unaware they would fund arms for the terror training camp.

"There's no proof that he's the mastermind," he told reporters.

"Ustad (Bashir) was actually asked for charity. He didn't know that it would be used there."

The lawyers have already succeeded in having the hearings moved to Cilacap, arguing Bashir is too ill to travel.

They expect all future hearings to be held in the small port town.

Terror experts have expressed concern judges outside Jakarta are inexperienced with terror cases.


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Source: AAP


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