Abu Bakar Bashir
  
Aug 17, 1938: Born in Indonesia’s East Java province to parents of Yemeni descent

1963: Graduates from Al-Irsyad University in Java

1970s: Accused of Islamist activism by Suharto regime. After imprisonment without trial, Bashir flees to Malaysia

1972: Returns to Java. Bashir and Abdullah Sungkar establish Al-Mukmin Islamic school

1985: Linked to bombing of 9th-century Buddhist temple in central Java. Flees back to Malaysia – recruits mujahideen volunteers to fight Soviet Union in Afghanistan

1990s: Bashir and Sungkar found Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Students sent to training camps in Afghanistan

1999: Bashir returns to Indonesia after fall of Suharto regime

Oct 2002: Bombings of Bali nightclubs kill 202 people.
Bashir is arrested for planning attacks but prosecution case fails

Aug 2003: JI bombs Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, killing 12 people

2004: Bashir is charged with involvement in Marriott bombing. Court frees him

Sep 2004: Suicide car bomb outside Australian embassy in Jakarta kills nine

Mar 2005: Trial finds Bashir guilty of conspiracy in 2002 Bali bombings. Sentenced to 30 months in prison but released after three months

Oct 2005: Suicide bombers attack Bali again killing 23 people

2008: During sermon, Bashir calls Western tourists “worms, snakes and maggots.” Establishes Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) group
                 
Jul 2009: JI again attacks Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in Jakarta, killing eight people

Jun 2011: Bashir is sentenced to 15 years in prison for supporting JAT training camp in Acheh province

Jul 2014: Calls on JAT members to join Islamic State’s fight in Syria

Jan 8, 2021: Abu Bakar Bashir released from prison following reduction in sentence
      

Sources: Jamestown Foundation, Counter Extremism Project 
Pictures: Getty Images 
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