malaysia bans the word allah to non-muslims

This will spread to the western world and media. I watched a popular cartoon show who about 10 years ago depicted Muhammad without any controversy. Then a decade later it was taboo.


Malaysian court rules use of 'Allah' exclusive to Muslims

Updated 29 minutes ago
Muslim protesters in Malaysia Photo: Muslim protesters gathered outside the appeals court near Kuala Lumpur. (AFP: Mohd Rasfan)
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Map: Malaysia

A Malaysian court has ruled that a Christian newspaper cannot use the word "Allah" to refer to God.

The unanimous decision, by three Muslim judges in the appeals court, overturned a 2009 ruling by a lower court that allowed the Malay language version of the newspaper, The Herald, to use the word "Allah".

"The usage of the word Allah is not an integral part of the faith in Christianity," chief judge Mohamed Apandi Ali said.

"The usage of the word will cause confusion in the community."

The decision coincides with heightened ethnic and religious tensions in Malaysia after a polarising May election.

During the election, the long-ruling coalition was deserted by urban voters, including a large section of minority ethnic Chinese.

In recent months, prime minister Najib Razak has sought to consolidate his support among majority ethnic Malays, who are Muslim by law.

He has also sought to secure the backing of traditionalists ahead of a crucial ruling party assembly this month.

His new government, dominated by his Malay-based United Malays National Organisation, has toughened security laws and introduced steps to boost a decades-old affirmative action policy for ethnic Malays.

It has reversed liberal reforms aimed at appealing to a broader section of multi-ethnic Malaysia.

In its case, the government argued the word "Allah" was specific to Muslims and the then-home minister's decision in 2008 to deny the newspaper permission to print it was justified on the basis of public order.

Lawyers for the Catholic paper had argued the word "Allah" predates Islam and had been used extensively by Malay-speaking Christians in Malaysia's part of Borneo island for centuries.

They say they will appeal against today's decision to Malaysia's highest court.

Christians in Indonesia and much of the Arab world continue to use the word without opposition from Islamic authorities.

Churches in the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak have said they will continue to use the word regardless of the ruling.

The paper won a judicial review of the home minister's decision in 2009, triggering an appeal from the federal government.

Ethnic Malays make up 60 per cent of Malaysia's 28 million people, with Chinese accounting for more than a quarter and ethnic Indians also forming a substantial minority. Christians account for around 9 per cent.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-14/god-allah-christian-muslim/5020962