Malaysia Removes Restrictions on Christians Traveling to Israel

ICC Note: Although Muslim-majority Malaysia keeps a pretty low profile when it comes to persecution, restrictions against Christians do exist. This article details a recent change in restrictions against Christians traveling to Israel. Up until recently, only 700 Christians per year could travel to Israel on “pilgrimage” and only for one week. The limit has been removed and the allowable visitation extended to three weeks. Earlier this year a Muslim blogger accused of blaspheming the Prophet in Saudi Arabia tried to escape to the West through Malaysia. Malaysia however held the blogger and delivered him to Saudi authorities, where he will probably face the death penalty for his “blasphemous” Facebook posts. 
12/19/2012 Malaysia (AsiaNews) –  Malaysian authorities have lifted quotas and other restrictions on Christians who want to travel to Israel and the Holy Land. The decision was taken in November but was made public only as applications for travel to Jerusalem went up. It comes after a long feud between the government and minority Christians and might affect next year’s election.
Predominantly Muslim Malaysia bars travel to Israel but the government has previously allowed Christians to travel to the historic city regarded as holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
According to the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), the government imposed a quota of 700 pilgrims per year, with any one church only allowed to send a group of 40.
But a letter sent from Prime Minister Najib Razak’s office to CFM president Ng Moon Hing on 28 November said these limits no longer applied save that visits could be for a maximum 21 days.
Following the controversy over the use of Allah also for the Christian God, a case decided in Christians’ favour in court, Malaysia’s Christian minority has had to face a period of difficulties, tensions and violence, including attacks against its churches and buildings.
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