Heru Andriyanto – High-profile terror defendant Abu Bakar Bashir was interrogated by the court on Monday over his role in the training of militants in Aceh.
The hearing marked the final day of witness testimony and evidence examinations before the court hears the prosecution's sentencing demands.
Bashir, who could face the death sentence if convicted, did not back down from his statements that he supported the training camp and his insistence that Islamic law be upheld in the country.
"You cannot recklessly call [the training] terrorism, because you will deal with Allah. I'dad [preparations for armed conflicts] is an obligation for Muslims and if you call it terrorism, you are harassing Allah and the prophets and it's murtad [rejecting Islam]," he told the South Jakarta District Court.
"When we breach the law, like with the use of firearms, remind us. But don't call us terrorists."
When a prosecutor asked him why the training was held without the consent of authorities, the defendant reacted with outrage.
"We don't need to report to anyone for implementing Sharia [Islamic law]. We don't need to report before performing sholat [prayer], nor do we need to report for I'dad," he said.
Bashir said all Muslim should stand up to fight against thogut and be willing to die for it if necessary.
"Thogut is anyone who stands above the law of Allah, who replaces Allah's law with human law. For instance, in Allah's law, adultery is a crime punishable by bludgeoning, but that has been replaced by imprisonment. That's thogut," he said.
Another prosecutor asked if the defendant was still pursuing his quest for an Islamic state. Bashir immediately replied, "Yes, it is an obligation for us all. All countries must be based on Islamic law. A Muslim leader who is not willing to uphold Islamic law is an infidel."
Bashir's trial is ongoing.