Posted on 10/19/2013 1:54:34 PM PDT by NYer
.- An appeals court in Malaysia has prohibited non-Muslims from using the word “Allah” to refer to deities, even though it is the standard Malay term for “god.”
The Oct. 14 ruling comes in a case relating to The Herald, the weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.
The court's verdict “violates the right to religious freedom and freedom of expression enshrined in the (Malaysian) constitution,” said Fr. Lawrence Andrew, editor of The Herald.
“It is a retrograde step in the development of law in relation to the fundamental liberty of religious minorities.”
“Allah” is the Malay language equivalent of the English word “god,” and is a loanword from Arabic. Malay is the official language of the country, and Malaysians of all religions use the word; not just Muslims.
The term “Allah” is used around the world by Arab Christians, and has been included in the Malaysian version of the Bible for 400 years.
Father Andrew noted that a Latin-Malaysian dictionary published in 1631 by the forerunner of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which translates “Deus” as “Allah”, establishes “decisive proof of the legitimate use of the word 'Allah' by Christians.”
Despite this, the appeals court said the term belongs exclusively to Muslims and that its use by others could cause public disorder. Some Muslim groups in Malaysia have argued that Christian use of “Allah” could encourage Muslims to convert to Christianity, according to the BBC.
The court's decision stems from a 2009 government decision saying that The Herald could not use “Allah” to refer to God in Christianity. The paper sued, and a court ruled in their favor, but the Malaysian government appealed.
Now that an appellate court has ruled against The Herald, Fr. Andrew said that Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur has given his approval to appeal the ruling to the Malaysian Supreme Court.
The ruling was “influenced by political pressure,” Fr. Andrew claimed.
Though the Malaysian constitution guarantees freedom of religion, Islam is the established religion. More than 60 percent of Malaysians are Muslim, and about 10 percent are Christians.
Fr. Andrew said that “all Malaysian Christians will take part in a prayer vigil in the coming days, praying for peace and religious freedom in Malaysia.”
This is the beginning of Infidel Genocide by Muslims.
Muslims stole the word “Allah” from christianity which has always used it in their Arabic language prayers.
I guess they were afraid to tell the Muzzies that they can’t say “Allah”. Good move and a great way to keep your head attached to your shoulders.
It suits me fine. What are non-believers supposed to call the Moslem god now, Big Juju?
Allah This!
Blacks can scream the N-word but should I whisper it —even in the most hushed, condign tones, then I’m fired.
Malays import this borrowed word, then outlaw its use by non-muzzies.
WE invented cars, but when THEY drive them, this deeply WOUNDS me.
I think its clear they need to STOP.
Does anyone think that our Courts have become anything but Democratic? They are either just arms of the politically correct folks are they are just politically correct for their own sakes (elected).
We are soon to be doomed by our own judges...geez.
In other news, Muslims petition the town of Walla Walla to change its name to avoid confusion and denigration of their religion. /S
That would have my vote, except it sounds vaguely anti-semitic.
So I'd go for Big Cthulhu.
NO PROBLEM! I agree...lets all use the CORRECT term from now on...SATAN!
Monkey's Butt has always worked for me.
Perfect, IMO.
I’m not muslim, so here goes:
Allah sucks! Allah is an idiot! Get lost Allah!
What of it, Malaysia?
allah, allah, allah, allah, allah, allah, allah.
No problem...I refer to Allah as blood thirsty moon god anyway...
Why would any non-muslim want to use the word, anyway?
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