Photo / APA Malaysian court ruled Wednesday that non-Muslims can use the word "Allah" to refer to God, in a major decision over a divisive issue for religious freedom in the Muslim-majority country. The High Court deemed unconstitutional a 35-year-old government ban on the usage of Allah and three other Arabic words by Christian publications, said the plaintiff's lawyer, Annou Xavier. "The court has now said the word Allah can be used by all Malaysians," Xavier said. The United Malays National Organisation and the conservative Islamic Party in joint statement said they viewed the court ruling with concern and demanded the government pursue the case in the Appeals Court. Anger over a lower court ruling against the government ban in 2009 led to a string of arson attacks and vandalism at churches and other places of worship.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 11, 2021 03:37 UTC