The debates within the jihadist community in the conflict zones of Syria and Iraq influence contemporary jihadists around the world into making tactical choices. Analysing and studying their reception and influence are useful for predicting their trajectories. These provide options for counter-terrorism efforts.

ON 11 AUGUST 2014, a number of board members of the Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) left the group and declared the formation of a new outfit named Jamaah Ansharu Shariah (JAS) in Bekasi, West Java. The new group was formed in reaction to Abu Bakar Ba’asyir’s decision to pledge allegiance (baiah) to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

The split was prompted by Ba’asyir’s call that JAT members who do not support and offer the baiah to the IS should leave JAT. Ba’asyir, a founder and leader of JAT and a co-founder of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) group has been serving an imprisonment term since 2011.

…Robi Sugara previously served as editor-in-chief of the Indonesian political magazines, Barometer and Nusa. He is currently pursuing a MSc in Strategic Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.