Amrozi bin Nurhasyim

Ali Amrozi bin Haji Nurhasyim (also known as Amrozi) (born July 5, 1962) is an Indonesian terrorist who was convicted for his part in the 2002 Bali bombing. He is a native of East Java and the fifth of 13 children. His two brothers Ali Ghufron, aka Mukhlas and Ali Imron were also both involved in the Bali bombing in October 2002. Mukhlas is suspected of converting Amrozi to militantism when the two reunited in Malaysia in the late 1980s. Both his brothers are currently in police custody.

Amrozi was allegedly motivated by the radical Islamic and anti-Western ideology espoused by Jemaah Islamiyah(JI). Amrozi has denied being a member of JI and stated that the attacks were in support for Muslims around the world.

In an interview with the chief of investigations, General I Made Mangku Pastika, when asked about Amrozi's feelings toward the bombing Pastika replied:

At the time of the bombing Bali was more popular as a tourist destination for Australians than it was for Americans.

On August 7, 2003, he was found guilty of his role in the bombings and sentenced to death by firing squad, however, he has not yet been executed, due to legal technicalities. The law under which he was convicted was not in effect at the time of the murders, and was ruled illegal by the Indonesian high court in July 2004. Originally incarcerated in Denpasar's prison, he was moved to the prison island of Nusakambangan in October 2005.

Amrozi's seemingly nonchalant demeanor throughout his trial has earned him nicknames such as "The Smiling Assassin", "The Smiling Bomber" and "The Laughing Bomber". [cite web | author = | year = 2003 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/asia-pacific/2471983.stm| title = Australian fury at Bali 'laughing bomber' | format = | work = | publisher = BBC News | accessmonthday=September 25 | accessyear = 2007]

While in prison, on 12 May 2008, he re-married his first wife, Rahma, in a ceremony which was conducted in his absence in his home village, while remaining married to his current wife. [cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/12/2242535.htm|title='Virtual wedding ceremony' for Bali bomber Amrozi|last=Thompson|first=Geoff|date=2008-05-12|work=ABC news|accessdate=2008-08-13]

Together with the two other bombers with a death sentence he launched a constitutional challenge against the use of firing squads. Amrozi prefers beheading.Fact|date=October 2008

In October 2008 re remained unrepentant and claimed revenge would be made for his death [cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/01/2379598.htm|title='Bali bombers threaten revenge over executions'|last=Thompson|first=Geoff|date=2008-10-01|work=ABC news|accessdate=2008-10-01]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/06/1060145728413.html "Bomb!" cries happy Amrozi (Sydney Morning Herald, August 7, 2003)]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/protesters-storm-bombers-prison/2005/10/12/1128796584497.html Protesters storm bomber's prison (SMH, October 12 2005)]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2632043.stm BBC Profile: Amrozi]
* [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/08/07/amrozi.profile/ CNN Amrozi: Bali's 'smiling bomber']