One of the men who helped orchestrate Indonesia's deadliest terrorist attack has turned into a comic book hero: The repentant Bali bomber warns youths about the dangers of Islamic extremism, the publisher said on Thursday.
The publisher of "When the Conscience Speaks" said 10,000 copies would be distributed to schools and libraries across the country starting next month.
The unlikely hero is Ali Imron, serving a life sentence for his role in the 2002 bombings on Bali island that killed 202 people, many of them foreign tourists. He escaped the death sentence because he expressed remorse and cooperated with investigators. Publisher Dhyah Madya Ruth said Imron's character gives tips and tricks to avoid being recruited by terrorist groups and to stay away from radical ideas.
Two of the other main characters are Bambang Agus Priyanto, a Muslim volunteer who led rescue efforts for the survivors of the Bali bombings, and Eka Hayati, wife of one of the Indonesian victims.
"We chose to use comics to tell the story because they would appeal more to children," the publisher said, adding Imron was supportive of the project. "Hopefully, it can raise public awareness about the impact of radicalism."
{{/usCountry}}"We chose to use comics to tell the story because they would appeal more to children," the publisher said, adding Imron was supportive of the project. "Hopefully, it can raise public awareness about the impact of radicalism."
{{/usCountry}}Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has been hit by a string of terrorist attacks blamed on the al-Qaida-linked regional network Jemaah Islamiyah and its affiliates. Together more than 260 people have died.