World

‘Captain Jihad’: Ex al-Qaeda-Linked Terrorist Now a Comic Book Charactera

Former al Qaida Linked Terrorist Nasir Abas Gets Comic Book

Former al-Qaida linked villain Nasir Abas reads the comic book that details his personal story. (AP Photo)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (The Blaze/AP) — These days it seems everyone’s being written into the comics. Recently, Captain Israel, Foreskin Man and Methadone Man arrived on the scene and there’s surely more to come. The list of characters keeps on growing. But standing out from the pack is a new daredevil — “Captain Jihad.” This newbie isn’t simply a heroic figment of the imagination, though; he’s a real life former terrorist villain named Nasir Abas.

The adventures of former al-Qaida-linked terrorist Abas have, indeed, become a new comic book in Indonesia, chronicling his transformation from militant to invaluable ally in the fight against terrorism.

The story of the soft-spoken, seemingly mild-mannered 42-year-old – recognized by strangers on the streets and even asked for the occasional autograph – is well-known in the world’s most populous Muslim country.

He went from helping train Muslim militants who carried out some of Southeast Asia’s deadliest attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings, to informing police about the inner-workings of the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network.

He’s also joined a government program to convince convicted terrorists that killing unarmed civilians in the name of their faith is wrong.

“I want children to learn from my experience,” Abas said of the colorful 137-page comic “I Found the Meaning of Jihad,” which appears in bookstores Friday and will be handed out at some schools and libraries.

“I don’t want them to make the same mistakes.”

Indonesia, hit by a string of suicide bombings that has killed more than 260 people since Sept. 11, 2001, has been widely praised for its anti-terror fight.

The government, partly through the use of paid informants and former militants working to persuade hard-liners to change sides, has rounded 680 Islamic militants, trying and convicting many of them in open courts.

Abas, a Malaysian national who now lives in Jakarta with his family, has been one of its biggest success stories.

Kids at an elementary school squealed when shown a copy of the book by nonprofit publisher Lasuardi Birru and called out to their friends, who eagerly huddled around and flipped through the lively, glossy pages.

More than 10,000 copies have been printed so far.

“Ohhhh. That’s gotta be Osama bin Laden,” said 10-year-old Anif Ahmad Aulia, pointing at a picture of a white-bearded cleric.

“Ya, he’s evil,” chimed in Qinthara Taqiyyah, a fifth grade girl. “But I like this comic … very colorful and fun!”

“Is that the hero?” another says, pointing at Abas.

The comic traces his early days at an Islamic boarding school to his recruitment as a fighter against Western oppression in Afghanistan in the late 1980s.

With a knack for weaponry, he rose quickly through the ranks of Jemaah Islamiyah, which was trying to carve out an Islamic state.

The dark shift came in 1998, when bin Laden issued a fatwa urging revenge against the Americans “on both military and nonmilitary” targets.

Some JI members agreed, saying that included all Christians and Jews.

But others – Abas included – believed Islam only condoned the killing of “enemies” when there was a clearly defined battleground and a direct threat.

Former al Qaida Linked Terrorist Nasir Abas Gets Comic Book

A series of deadly attacks followed in late 2000.

“I knew JI members were involved,” Abas said in an interview. “But I was against it. It was very clear to me that there was no benefit for Islam or our struggle.”

On Oct. 12, 2002 things went from bad to worse.

That’s when some of the men Abas helped train blew up two Bali nightclubs, killing 202 people, many of them foreign tourists. Eighty-eight Australians and seven Americans were among the dead.

Abas felt guilty and considered this a “disaster” for JI.

He was captured in April 2003 in the massive security crackdown that followed.

Convinced he was going to be tortured and possibly killed, he was surprised to see how gently he was treated by his interrogators. They’d apparently learned from other arrested militants that he did not support the attacks.

“Look at my eyes, do I look hostile to Islam?” the anti-terror squad chief Col. Bekto Suprapto, is quoted in the comic book as saying. “If you don’t agree with the bombings, let us together stop it.”

By morning, Abas was ready to talk. He said a prayer and started feeding police details about Jemaah Islamiyah, leaving it severely weakened.

From that point on, Abas tried to persuade his former comrades that their interpretation of the Quran was wrong. But he has many dangerous enemies and knows he has to be careful.

“This,” Abas says, “is my jihad now.”

Security experts say it’s good to find creative ways to battle hateful ideologies spread by al-Qaida and other extremist groups, as long as it’s part of a comprehensive counter-radicalization strategy.

“We know young people are often targeted for recruitment by jihadist groups,” said Kumar Ramakrishna, a terrorism expert in Singapore. “So reaching out in innovative ways, such as through pop music and comics … is certainly a very good idea in my view.”

Comments (41)

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  • zoro51
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 4:18pm

    a well known CULT OF DEATH now ahs a comic to push KILLING for a FALSE GOD ALLAH to supposedly give then 70 virgins to pound but in HELL its all FIRE.. no virgins theres NO ALLAH only HELL when u kill murder your FALSE religion saves NO ONE the comic is a promotional propaganda to lure boys to live a life of MURDER DEATH N HATE .. hope they ban thins in comic book shops here in america.. cause america IS NOT MUSLIM never will be nor are we SOCIALISTS… WE REMEMNBER what the camels did to us they are a CULT of murders only..

    Report Post » zoro51  
    • millergenuine
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 7:22pm

      Please look up the definition for the term:
      Redemption

      Yeah, it can happen. Why not let yourself see a little good in the world.

      Report Post » millergenuine  
    • thegr8restoration
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 10:20pm

      ZORO51

      you might want to read the artical first before you post. I’m not a big fan of Islam myself but give the guy a break at least he seems like he is making good on his past sins.

      Report Post »  
  • TiltingWindmills
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 3:20pm

    I pray that Nasir Abas finds Jesus. Then he would be not only an ally against terrorism but would be to the glory of God.

    Report Post » TiltingWindmills  
  • Ken
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:52pm

    So how “exactly” do convince your terrorist buddies not to be a terrorist anymore? Kinda like telling a dog to stop being a dog! Give me a break! He must be getting lots poppies in exchange for no more killing!

    Report Post »  
    • Lucy Larue
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 2:42pm

      KEN,

      Uh…,please note the picture that accompanies the article.
      He is working with Muslim children to turn them away from Islamofacism.This would be similar to ex gang members who speak to children about the evils ans futility of becoming a gang member.

      They do not have poppy crops in Indonesia.

      Report Post »  
  • SilentReader
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:35pm

    This al Qaeda-linked terrorist villain Nasir Abas who was a member of the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network who carried out some of Southeast Asia’s deadliest attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings, should be paying for his crimes rather than being some character in a comic book. Why isn’t he in prison where he belongs? The hundreds of people that he mass-murdered, including Americans and Australians, had no choice in the manner of their horrific deaths at this killer’s hand.

    Report Post » SilentReader  
  • moreteaplease
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:16pm

    “He’s also joined a government program to convince convicted terrorists that killing unarmed civilians in the name of their faith is wrong”

    I would be curious to know what his success rate is with this considering their faith teaches them to kill unarmed civilians if they are the infidel.

    Report Post » moreteaplease  
  • Sy Kosys
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:13pm

    In the next issue, he teams up with “Captain Planet” and issues a joint fatwah against the TEA Party…

    Report Post » Sy Kosys  
  • Bernard
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:08pm

    One silver lining is that due to it’s novelty of being a Muslim comic book featuring a terrorist, it could be a collector’s item.

    Report Post »  
  • slvrserfr
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:07pm

    A comic book putting suicide bombers in a positive image? That is so unethical and immoral on so many levels.

    Report Post »  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:16pm

    ROSE-ELLEN,

    if you collect the first 12 issues and mail in your proof-of-purchase, you get a hand-woven burqua!

    Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
  • ChiefGeorge
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 11:42am

    I’ll just bet that all the bad guys are White men. Ummm?

    Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • HuskerDave
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 10:19am

    It’s unfortunate how rare it is to hear of a repentant radical. I hope his message is genuine and well-received. Too many people in the Muslim community are complicit in bad acts for their failure to condemn and oppose them.

    Report Post »  
    • TAKE_NO_PRISONERS
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:02pm

      A Jihadist is never a former,only in words to cover his a-ss to an infidel.Words can be deceptive just ask Mohammad,A problem concerning law and order {with respect to Muslims in dar al-harb} arises from an ancient Islamic legal principle — that of taqiyya, a word the root meaning of which is “to remain faithful” but which in effect means “dissimulation.” It has full Quranic authority (3:28 and 16:106) and allows the Muslim to conform outwardly to the requirements of unislamic or non-Islamic government, while inwardly “remaining faithful” to whatever he conceives to be proper Islam, while waiting for the tide to turn.

      Report Post »  
  • South Philly Boy
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:49am

    Really, I gave up comic books when I was a KID

    Report Post » South Philly Boy  
    • robert
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:55am

      I can hardly wait for the next edition that shows Capt. Jihad stoning a woman to death for wearing lipstick.

      Or cutting off a hand for pilfering a stick of chewing gum.

      Report Post »  
  • Two Cents
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 9:00am

    Now this is how we win hearts and minds. Keep the presses hot!

    Report Post »  
  • NewLife56
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:57am

    COMING SOON

    Captain Jihad Vs. Captian America in 3D & IMAX

    My money is on Captain America unless the Lame Stream Media and Obama stick their noses in on the fight.

    Report Post » NewLife56  
  • islandlady
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:48am

    To Bad there isn’t Soros-a-Tosis, The fungal man you cannot get rid of with any pill or fungicide!
    What where you step because just like camel dung it sticks right to your shoes and won’t wash off slowing infecting your toes on up your leg until its covered your body with a slimy mucous.
    And you know what, it smells just as bad.

    Report Post » islandlady  
  • Lifenetpilot
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:39am

    TPPAGEE and ARES338,
    I don’t think you read or grok the article.
    The hero is a FORMER jihadist who now works to convince children that jihad is NOT the way.

    Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:37am

    I hope the CIA gets a man in that publishing company and implants a missile guidance chip in each issue.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • ricklap
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:34am

    Now if thats not proof of how much these poor Palistinians WANT peace i don’t know what is.

    Report Post »  
  • tppagee
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:17am

    Useless idiots!
    It’s a cycle of stupidity.

    Report Post »  
    • Servant Of YHVH
      Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:39am

      Anyone, including former terrorists, that turn from killing and maiming innocent people is a good thing. I believe that this is a real changed since even if it was an act there are too many terrorists out there that would be eager to kill him if they have the chance. This would not benefit the terrorists for him to be putting on a act and not even terrorists would be willing to get killed for no reason.

      Report Post » Servant Of YHVH  
  • ares338
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:10am

    All the little bomb throwing darlings have to have a hero also.

    Report Post » ares338  
  • Lucy Larue
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 7:34am

    Be safe Mr. Abas. Be safe.
    The world needs all the sane voices it can gather to speak against the evil morass of Islamofacism.

    Report Post »  
  • lonewolf57
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 7:31am

    United States of America………….until you say there will be 1 tissue’s or 3 ….I don‘t want no ’pesky’ 3 squares.

    007

    Report Post » lonewolf57  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 7:19am

    By morning, Abas was ready to talk. He said a prayer and started feeding police details about Jemaah Islamiyah, leaving it severely weakened.

    “From that point on, Abas tried to persuade his former comrades that their interpretation of the Quran was wrong. But he has many dangerous enemies and knows he has to be careful.

    “This,” Abas says, “is my jihad now.””

    Good deal…should have happened years ago…it’s a start. We need to hear more from the Muslims and how they are going to turn this around.

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • manster35
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 7:15am

    Wow. What can you say. This is more great thinking. God Help us.

    Report Post »  
  • GIDEON612
    Posted on September 9, 2011 at 7:14am

    Funny, isn’t that who we have as our leader now?

    Report Post » GIDEON612  
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