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In Malaysia, Uproar Grows Over Use of Word ‘Allah’ (several churches firebombed)
New York Times ^ | January 11, 2010 | Seth Mydans

Posted on 01/10/2010 1:54:56 PM PST by reaganaut1

An uproar among Muslims in Malaysia over the use of the word Allah by Christians spread over the weekend with the firebombing and vandalizing of several churches, increasing tensions at a time of political turbulence.

Arsonists struck three churches and a convent school early Sunday and splashed black paint on another church. This followed the firebombing of four churches on Friday and Saturday. No injuries were reported, and only one of the churches, Metro Tabernacle in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, suffered extensive damage.

The attacks, unlike anything Malaysia has seen before, have shaken a country where many Muslims are angry over a Dec. 31 court ruling that overturned a government ban on the use of the word Allah to denote the Christian God.

Though that usage is common in many countries, where Arabic- and Malay-language Bibles describe Jesus as the “son of Allah,” many Muslims here insist that the word belongs exclusively to them and say that its use by other faiths could confuse Muslim worshipers.

That dispute in turn was described by some observers as a sign of political maneuvering as the governing party struggles to maintain its dominance following its worst setbacks in national and state elections last March.

Some political analysts and politicians accuse Prime Minister Najib Razak of raising racial and religious issues as he attempts to solidify his Malay base. In a difficult balancing act, he must also win back ethnic Chinese and Indian voters whose opposition contributed to his party’s setback last year.

“The political contestation is a lot more intensified,” said Elizabeth Wong, a state official who is a member of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat. “In Malaysia the central theme will always be about the Malay identity and about Islam."

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: islam; malaysia; muslims
Since Muslims are often intolerant of other religions, doesn't it make sense for the West to keep them out?
1 posted on 01/10/2010 1:54:56 PM PST by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1

obama will call for malaysia to respect Christians.
Stupid of me, as a muslim he approves of the burning of churches.


2 posted on 01/10/2010 2:01:21 PM PST by AndyPH
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To: reaganaut1

obama will call for malaysia to respect Christians.
Stupid of me, as a muslim he approves of the burning of churches.


3 posted on 01/10/2010 2:01:30 PM PST by AndyPH
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To: reaganaut1

It’s a danger sign when a religion tries to interfere with those practicing a different religion. It’s obviously none of their damn business what word Christians use for God.

I thought they are claiming to be worshipping the same God as Christians.

Hard to think of anything stupider than this crap. The Muslim religion has been intolerant of other religions all over the World. That’s almosta “duh” statement.


4 posted on 01/10/2010 2:55:00 PM PST by Williams (It's the policies, stupid)
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This isn’t the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The common thread ended at Abraham. From there was a lineage of freedom and of slavery.


5 posted on 01/10/2010 3:27:34 PM PST by veracious
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To: veracious
Nefore Muhammed, allah was one of the 360 Saudi Arabian moon gods. Then Muhammed declared that allah was the only one. No, No! allah is not the same as the Christian and Jewish God, who is alive. allah is just a part of Muhammed’s imagination. This is why Muslims are so messed up.
6 posted on 01/10/2010 3:39:56 PM PST by tessalu ( Globalism is destroying America, making it jobless.)
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