ICC Note: Christian congregations in two Malaysian states have pledged to continue to use the Arabic word ‘Allah’ to refer to God despite the possibility that a recent court ruling in the country may result in prosecution for using the word. The debate over the use of ‘Allah’ to refer to God by anyone other than Muslims has threatened to deepen divides between religious groups in the country. In late 2009, early 2010, a court ruled to protect the right of Christians and other faiths to use the word. The ruling sparked violent protests and at least ten churches were attacked. A court recently overturned that right, leading Christians to fear that their religious freedom will be increasingly curtailed in the Muslim-majority nation. 
11/25/2013 Malaysia (CSW) – Christian leaders in Sabah and Sarawak have vowed to carry on using the word ‘Allah’ for God even if they are prosecuted under the Malaysian laws as a result. The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) chairman Archbishop Datuk Bolly Lapok said the Bumiputra Church would continue to use ‘Allah’as it is fundamental to all aspects of their profession and practice of the Christian faith.
“Any attempt to forbid the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims would be most regrettable and wholly unacceptable as it is a flagrant disregard and betrayal of the Malaysia Agreements that guarantee the inalienable rights of non-Muslims in Sarawak and Sabah to complete religious freedom,” said the archbishop.
Bolly, who is also Archbishop of the Anglican Province of South East Asia, Council of Churches Malaysia Acting President and Christian Federation of Malaysia Deputy Chairman, said these rights must be given their rightful place and that religious bigotry, racism and extremism must be contained.
Datuk Rev Dr Thomas Tsen, president of the Sabah Council of Churches, said Christians in the country will continue to pray that the case and issue can be resolved peacefully for the good of the people. He said they wanted to continue to live in harmony and peace as one Malaysia.
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