Abu Bakar Bashir, the so-called “spiritual leader” of the Indonesian terror gang Jemaah Islamiah, told his followers yesterday not to fear being labeled “terrorists”—because they are doing the work of Allah: Cleric to Indonesians: Don’t Fear Terrorist Label.

Bashir, who denies the existence of the militant Muslim group blamed for last year’s deadly Bali bombings and the Marriott attack, sent word to 3,000 believers gathered in a stadium in this city in central Java island for a congress of the Mujahiden Council of Indonesia, or MMI.

“Do not be afraid of being labeled as trying to overthrow (the government) or as terrorists when you are carrying out Islamic sharia (law),” Bashir said in the speech read out at an inaugural prayer meeting by Irfan Awwas, MMI executive chairman.

Bashir is spiritual leader of the MMI and is believed to play a similar role in the shadowy JI, seen as the Southeast Asian arm of Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network.

His words were interrupted by cries of “Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest),” from the congregation. Solo is the heart of Bashir’s movement and where he runs the Islamic school that was attended by some of the accused Bali bombers.

School officials said another of the pupils was Asnar Latin Sani, identified as the suicide bomber who drove a car packed with explosives and fuel up to the lobby of the U.S.-run Marriott Hotel last Tuesday and blew it up. …

“The Indonesian government must not discredit Muslims wanting to perform their religious duties and should not arrest clerics, religious leaders or religious teachers because that will anger God,” the jailed cleric was quoted as saying.