<hgroup class="withStandfirst"> Malaysia: 'Allah' Word Banned For Non-Muslims
A Christian newspaper says minority rights are under threat after a court rules it cannot use 'Allah' to refer to a Christian God.
<time datetime="2013-10-14T12:31:15.766+01:00">12:31pm UK, Monday 14 October 2013</time>
</hgroup> <section id="primary" class="hero">
</section> A Malaysian appeals court has ruled that the word 'Allah' cannot be used to refer to God in non-Muslim faiths.
Catholic newspaper The Herald wanted to continue using the word, which is commonly used in the Malay language to refer to God, but the government successfully argued it should be reserved for Muslims.
"The usage of the word Allah is not an integral part of the faith in Christianity," said chief judge Mohamed Apandi Ali.
"The usage of the word will cause confusion in the community."
The judgement overturns a decision by a lower court nearly four years ago.
Anger over that decision sparked arson attacks and vandalism at Malaysian churches and other places of worship.
The government has justified the ban on grounds of national security and to avoid misunderstanding and confusion.
Malaysia's Christian, Buddhist and Hindu minorities have often complained that the government infringes their constitutional right to practise religion freely.
However, the appeals court said banning the word in non-Muslim contexts was "no infringement of any constitutional rights".
"We could find no reason why the (Catholic newspaper) is so adamant to use the word Allah in their weekly, said the chief judge.
About 200 Muslims outside the court in Putrajaya greeted the decision with shouts of Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest).
Lawyers for The Herald had argued that the word Allah predated Islam and had been used by Malay-speaking Christians in part of Borneo island for centuries.
Reverend Lawrence Andrew, editor of the The Herald, said they intend to appeal the verdict in the country's highest court.
"We are greatly disappointed and dismayed," he said.
"This is unrealistic. It is a retrograde step in the development of law in relation to the fundamental liberty of religious minorities."
Christians in Indonesia and much of the Arab world continue to use the word Allah without opposition from Islamic authorities.
A Christian newspaper says minority rights are under threat after a court rules it cannot use 'Allah' to refer to a Christian God.
<time datetime="2013-10-14T12:31:15.766+01:00">12:31pm UK, Monday 14 October 2013</time>
</hgroup> <section id="primary" class="hero">
</section> A Malaysian appeals court has ruled that the word 'Allah' cannot be used to refer to God in non-Muslim faiths.
Catholic newspaper The Herald wanted to continue using the word, which is commonly used in the Malay language to refer to God, but the government successfully argued it should be reserved for Muslims.
"The usage of the word Allah is not an integral part of the faith in Christianity," said chief judge Mohamed Apandi Ali.
"The usage of the word will cause confusion in the community."
The judgement overturns a decision by a lower court nearly four years ago.
Anger over that decision sparked arson attacks and vandalism at Malaysian churches and other places of worship.
The government has justified the ban on grounds of national security and to avoid misunderstanding and confusion.
Malaysia's Christian, Buddhist and Hindu minorities have often complained that the government infringes their constitutional right to practise religion freely.
However, the appeals court said banning the word in non-Muslim contexts was "no infringement of any constitutional rights".
"We could find no reason why the (Catholic newspaper) is so adamant to use the word Allah in their weekly, said the chief judge.
About 200 Muslims outside the court in Putrajaya greeted the decision with shouts of Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest).
Lawyers for The Herald had argued that the word Allah predated Islam and had been used by Malay-speaking Christians in part of Borneo island for centuries.
Reverend Lawrence Andrew, editor of the The Herald, said they intend to appeal the verdict in the country's highest court.
"We are greatly disappointed and dismayed," he said.
"This is unrealistic. It is a retrograde step in the development of law in relation to the fundamental liberty of religious minorities."
Christians in Indonesia and much of the Arab world continue to use the word Allah without opposition from Islamic authorities.
