JAKARTA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo decided to free firebrand Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Baasyir next week by commuting his jail term over humanitarian concerns, a presidential aide said on Friday.
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, former legal and human rights minister who is also head of Moon and Crescent Party (PBB), said Baasyir would immediately be freed after settling his administration process in a high security prison in Bogor, West Java province.
"Baasyir now is aged 81 and in decreasing health condition. The president was concerned with his health condition," Yusril said after meeting with Baasyir in the prison.
The presidential legal aide said President Widodo had asked him to look into possibilities to free Baasyir from the jail.
Baasyir has served 9 years of his 15-year sentence in the jail for involvement in setting up a terrorist training camp in Aceh province in 2010.
The Muslim cleric, who chaired the now-defunct radical group of Jamaah Anshaarut Tauhid (JAT) and promoted Islamic State in Indonesia, was linked with major terror attacks in 2000s.
