TERRORISM CRIMES IN INDONESIA: A COUNTERTERRORISM PERSPECTIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33102/mjsl.vol13no1.867Keywords:
Crime, terrorism, countermeasure, counterterrorism, IndonesiaAbstract
Terrorism has emerged as a significant concern in contemporary societies. In Indonesia, the primary factor contributing to individual involvement in terrorism is the pervasive influence of deviant Islamic ideologies, particularly those pertaining to jihad and caliphate governance. Misinterpretations of Islamic teachings, with an inclination towards extremism, substantially increase an individual's propensity to engage in terrorist acts such as suicide bombings. This study aimed to investigate terrorism in Indonesia using an anti-terrorism approach, specifically counter radicalism. This qualitative research employed normative or doctrinal methodologies to identify, explain, analyse, and systematically articulate facts, principles, concepts, theories, and laws, with the objective of generating new knowledge and ideas for legal reform. It is crucial to acknowledge that the motivations of terrorist groups in Indonesia extend beyond religious doctrine. These groups sought to fully implement Islamic law (kaffah) and establish an Islamic state (Darul Islam) through the caliphate system. Associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), these entities aimed to establish both an Islamic state within Indonesia and a global Islamic caliphate. The Indonesian government can enhance its counterterrorism initiatives by implementing more stringent penalties for those involved, as delineated in Law No. 5 of 2018, which focuses on eradicating terrorism. Furthermore, the government should augment proactive measures by instituting a counterterrorist ideological programme to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of Islamic teachings and national values, thereby ensuring accurate comprehension among individuals. The study concluded that terrorist organisations in Indonesia are motivated not only by religious fanaticism, aimed at the perfect implementation of Islamic law (kaffah), but also by political ambitions to establish an Islamic state (Darul Islam) within the country. This study is expected to enhance the comprehensive understanding of the implementation of counter-ideological and de-radicalization initiatives while also promoting nationalist values to preserve the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia.
Downloads
References
Abrar, A., Khalida, A., & Hareem, H. (2024). Revealing legal politics in city branding: A study of Padang Panjang city as the Kota Serambi Mekah. JURIS (Jurnal Ilmiah Syariah), 23(2), 309. https://doi.org/10.31958/juris.v23i2.13241
Abeyratne, R. (2011). Cyber terrorism and aviation-national and international responses. Journal of Transportation Security, 4(4), 337–349. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12198-011-0074-3
Adam, B., & Afrizal, T. Y. (2025). Strengthening of state company on strategic commodities in indonesia for food security interest under WTO rules. Cendekia : Jurnal Hukum, Sosial Dan Humaniora, 3(1), 929–945. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14619225
Arromadloni, M. N., Al Munawar, S. A. H., & Mansurnoor, I. A. (2022). The hadith interpretations of radical-terrorist groups. KURIOSITAS: Media Komunikasi Sosial Dan Keagamaan, 15(2), 218–246.
Bassiouni, M. C. (1981). Terrorism, law enforcement, and the mass media: perspectives, problems, proposals. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 72(1), 1–51.
Bellelli, R. (2016). The Council of Europe. In International cooperation in counter-terrorism. Routledge.
Bjørgo, T. (2004). Root causes of terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward. Routledge.
Bowden, B., & Davis, M. T. (2008). Terror: From tyrannicide to terrorism. Univ. of Queensland Press.
Chaidar, A. (2019, January). "MIT, teroris “tamkin”". Kompas. https://www.kompas.id/baca/utama/2019/01/04/mit-teroris-tamkin
English, R. (2023). The IRA and the partition of Ireland. Review of Irish Studies in Europe, 6(2), 23–35.
Gunawan, Y., & Zulfiqri, A. (2024). Violence in Abyei: Legal implications of the Sudan–South Sudan dispute. Brawijaya Law Journal, 11(2), 289-307. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.blj.2024.011.02.06
Hatta, M., Rajamanickam, R., Abdullah, D., Hartono, H., Saleh, A., Djanggih, H., Bunga, M., Wahab, M., Susena, K. C., & Abbas, I. (2018). Internet and terrorism in Indonesia. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1114(1), 1–7.
Hearne, E., & Laiq, N. (2010). A new approach? Deradicalisation programs and counterterrorism. International Peace Institute.
Heryanto, A. (2006). State terrorism and political identity in Indonesia: Fatally belonging. Routledge.
Hoffman, B. (2009). Defining terrorism. In Terrorism and counterterrorism: Understanding the new security environment (3rd ed.). The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Hung, W. Y. (2003). Review on the World Trade Center terrorist attack fires. International Journal on Engineering Performance-Based Fire Codes, 5(2), 45–49.
Indrawan, J., & Aji, M. P. (2019). The effectiveness of national agency for combating terrorism’s deradicalization program toward terror convicts in Indonesia. Journal of Defense & State Defense, 9(2), 1–22.
Johannen, U. (2003). September 11 & political freedom: Asian perspectives. Select Pub & Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
Kurniawan, S., Putri, A. R., Septiyo, T., & Pujiyono, P. (2020). Non-criminal measures to combat terrorism through deradicalization programs in Indonesia. Jurnal Yustisiabel, 4(1), 14–26.
Koruth Samuel, T. (2016). Radicalisation in southeast asia: a selected case study of daesh in indonesia, malaysia and the philippines. In The Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT). https://doi.org/363.3250959
Mansfield, D. (2019). The Irish Republican Army and Northern Ireland. In Insurgency in the modern world (pp. 45–86). Routledge.
McAlister, M. (2002). A cultural history of the war without end. Journal of American History, 89(2), 439–455.
Mestika, H. F. (2023). Terrorism and Islam in the global perspective. Indonesian Journal of Counter Terrorism and National Security, 2(1), 147–178.
Muhid, A., Hadi, M., Fanani, A., Arifin, A., & Hanif, A. (2019). The effect of hate speech exposure on religious intolerance among indonesian muslim teenagers. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 370(December), 148–151. https://doi.org/10.2991/adics-elssh-19.2019.31
Nahdhodin, M., Sudarmanto, K., Triwati, A., & Arifin, Z. (2024). Efforts to combat terrorism crimes from a criminological perspective. Jurnal USM Law Review, 7(1), 502–513.
Neumann, P. (2010). Prisons and Terrorism: Radicalisation and De-radicalisation in 15 Countries. International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR).
Noor, F. A. (1997). Terrorising the truth. Just World Trust (JUST).
Mawdsley, N. (Ed.). (2003). Bali after the tragedy: The impact and challenges of tourism-based development in Indonesia. United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), & Bank Dunia.
Paamsyah, J., Irawan, H., Feprizon, H., Perdana, M. A., & Jainah, Z. O. (2023). Efforts to combat terrorism in Indonesia. Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, 3(6), 2973–2985.
Pape, R. A. (2003). The strategic logic of suicide terrorism. American Political Science Review, 97(3), 343–361.
Pipe, D. (2002). "What is jihād?". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/
Prayitno. (2009, December). "Teroris di Indonesia punya motif politik". Kompas. https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2009/12/05/16025025/Prayitno.Teroris.di.Indonesia.Punya.Motif.Politik
Putra, I. N. D., & Hitchcock, M. (2006). The Bali bombs and the tourism development cycle. Progress in Development Studies, 6(2), 157–166.
Robertson, A. E. (2007). Terrorism and global security. Facts On File, Inc.
Rowe, S. E. (2015). Legal research, legal analysis, and legal writing: Putting law school into practice. Stetson Law Review, 29, 1193–1211. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1223682
Salas, A. Y., & Anwar, U. (2021). Pembinaan narapidana terorisme dalam upaya deradikalisasi di lembaga pemasyarakatan super maximum security. Journal of Correctional, 4(1), 33–43.
Sainuddin, L. (2017). Legal analysis of crime terrorism and counter terrorism strategy. International Journal of Advanced Research, 5(7), 93–95.
Salazar, P. (2018). Words are weapons: Inside ISIS’s rhetoric of terror. Yala University Press.
Selamat, F., Shah, H. A. R., & Ali, N. M. (2023). Juxtaposition of right to self-determination and terrorism under international law. Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law, 11(2), 187–201.
Subaidi, J., & Bahreisy, B. (2024). The legal position of corporate crime in Indonesia. International Journal of Law, Social Science, and Humanities (IJLSH), 1(1), 50–55. https://doi.org/10.70193/ijlsh.v1i1.143
Suratman, Y. P. (2017). The effectiveness of de-radicalization program in Southeast Asia: Does it work? The case of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Journal of ASEAN Studies, 5(2), 135–156.
Suryani, L. K., Page, A., Lesmana, C., Jennaway, M., Basudewa, I., & Taylor, R. (2009). Suicide in paradise: Aftermath of the Bali bombings. Psychological Medicine, 39(8), 1317–1323.
Shahbaz, N. C. and D. R. and W. A. and M. (2018). Impact of terrorism on stock markets: empirical evidence from the SAARC region (Issue 15211). https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/84783/
Syihab, M. A., & Hatta, M. (2023). Metode penanggulangan tindak pidana terorisme di Indonesia. Cendekia: Jurnal Hukum, Sosial dan Humaniora, 1(1), 13–27.
Takdir, M., Basri, B., & Sidik, M. D. H. (2023). Psychography of terrorist religiosity: A case study in East Java. Wawasan: Jurnal Ilmiah Agama dan Sosial Budaya, 8(1), 31–42.
Viotti, P. R. (2007). International relations and world politics: Security, economy, identity. Pearson Education Inc.
Widya, B. (2020). Deradicalisation in Indonesia: Implementation and challenges. Journal of Terrorism Studies, 2(1), 32-50.
Wright, R., Berger, J., Braniff, W., Bunzel, C., Byman, D., Cafarella, J., Gambhir, H., Gartenstein-Ross, D., Hassan, H., & Lister, C. (2017). The jihadi threat: ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and beyond. United States Institute of Peace–Wilson Center.
Yaqin, A. (2007). Legal research and writing. Malayan Law Journal. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=s47AoAEACAAJ
Zaidan, M. A. (2017). Eradication of criminal acts of terrorism (criminal policy approach). Law Research Review Quarterly, 3(2), 149–180.
Zulhendra, J., Firdaus, F., & Wirman, H. P. (2023). The crown witness from the point of view of Islamic criminal law in truth discovery of criminal cases in Indonesia. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 8(1), 155-172. https://doi.org/10.29240/jhi.v8i1.6918
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Hatta, Ramalinggam Rajamanickam, Tengku Noor Azira Tengku Zainudin, Mohd Zamre Mohd Zahir, Zulfan, Husni

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.