Malaysia withholds 'Allah Bibles'

By Robert Pigott
BBC News, Religious affairs correspondent

Muslims take part in Friday prayer at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur About two-thirds of Malaysia's population is Muslim

The Malaysian government has refused to release 10,000 Bibles which it seized because they contained the word Allah to refer to God.

The government, which is dominated by Muslim Malays, claims that the word Allah is Islamic and that its use in Bibles could upset Muslims.

The Roman Catholic Church is challenging the ban in court.

Religion has become highly sensitive in Malaysia, where about two-thirds of the population is Muslim.

Religious minorities have accused the government of undermining their rights.

The government has impounded Bibles before, intercepting 5,000 in March as they were imported from Indonesia.

Church officials say that although the word Allah originated in Arabic, Malays have used it for centuries to refer generally to God, and Arabic-speaking Christians used it before Islam was founded.

The Christian Federation of Malaysia said the religious freedom guaranteed by the Malaysian constitution was meaningless if people were denied Bibles which used their own language.

Bookmark with:

What are these?

E-mail this to a friend
Printable version

Print Sponsor

Dandelion seeds (BBC Religion website logo) BBC Religion
Video, audio, features, local coverage and much more

MORE RELIGION COVERAGE STORIES Vatican tries to woo back the art world Archbishop and Pope make progress Priest shot dead in Moscow church Rabbi used drugs and prostitutes ANALYSIS

Pope Benedict, left, shaking hands with the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams on Saturday 21 November Vatican talks struggle for unity
Twenty minutes of dialogue between Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict.

Muslim and Sikhs on parade Anglicans study Vatican plan Rome's recruitment offer Iran's theological foes Therese: a modern saint Quiverfull: Ten children and up Pope's 'safe' Czech visit Scottish island to become ashram London's Islamic finance success Arts festival draws criticism RELIGION DIARY

Malaysian Muslims pray at a mosque in Kuala Lumpur (file photo) Whose God is Allah?
Why Malaysia is confiscating Bibles, and Switzerland votes on minarets.
Changing loyalties 'Open your wallet' Condom conundrum AUDIO & VIDEO NEWS

Crucifix Anger at Italy school crucifix case

Tim Nicholson Eco-employee wins bid to appeal

Religious alter Book of Genesis 'teases imagination'

Elephant calf Ganesh Vijay Elephant calf named in ceremony

SEE ALSO Malay court hearing 'Allah' case
24 May 09 | South Asia Malaysia reverses Allah paper ban
30 Dec 07 | Asia-Pacific Malaysian row over word for 'God'
28 Dec 07 | Asia-Pacific
RELATED INTERNET LINKS (External) Herald (English) The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
TOP ASIA-PACIFIC STORIES Philippines election attack leaves 21 dead
Yudhoyono says no to corruption case
Yemeni tribe frees Japanese man

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Quantcast

Explore the BBC

Home

BBC links A to F

BBC links H to L

BBC links M to Sc

BBC links Sp to W

A whole lot more

To top

Site Links

BBC links

BBC © MMIX

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific

watch One-Minute World News

Change Text Only Settings

Graphic version of this page

Related BBC sites