Now they can’t use the word again, despite its being used by non-Muslims for centuries. By Szeleng Chan for Christian Today (thanks to Twostellas):
Malaysian Christians have expressed deep disappointment after the Malaysian Government appeared to backtrack on an earlier decision to allow non-Muslims to use the word “Allah”.
The dispute over the use of “Allah” started when the Malaysian Government threatened to revoke a local Catholic tabloid’s permit to publish. In response, The Herald weekly newspaper of the Catholic Church in Malaysia filed a lawsuit last month against the government, claiming that the ban was unconstitutional and violates freedom of religion.
Not long after The Herald filed its suit, the government back-tracked, however, stating in a fax to The Herald’s editor that the newspaper would receive its 2008 permit with no conditions attached.
The government’s position appeared to change again, however, when the de-facto minister for Islamic affairs, Abdullah Zin, told reporters that the Cabinet had agreed that the term should only be used by Muslims.
Zin said the Cabinet was of the view that “Allah” refers to the Muslim God and can only be used by Muslims, who comprise about 60 per cent of Malaysia’s population.
Wait til Ibrahim Hooper gets a load of this. I’m sure he’ll fire off a sharp letter to Zin, explaining that we all worship the same God.