Malaysian court verdict: Non-Muslims can also use the word 'Allah'

 

A Malaysian court on Wednesday said in its judgment that non-Muslims can also use the word 'Allah' to address God. It is noteworthy that this is an important decision on the divisive issue of religious freedom in a Muslim-majority country.

The lawyer for the community, challenging the government's ban in this regard, said that the High Court has revoked the 35-year ban on the use of 'Allah' and three other words of Arabic language by Christian publications and this ban Is considered unconstitutional.

The government had earlier said that only Muslims would use the word 'Allah' to avoid the confusion that could convert them to other religions. This is a unique case in Malaysia and is not the case in other Muslim-majority countries where a significant number of Christian minorities live.

Christian leaders in Malaysia said the ban on the use of the word 'Allah' is unjustified. He said that the Male-speaking Christian population has long used the word 'Allah' to address God in prayers and songs, including the Bible.