Malaysia government releases seized Bibles, thousands still held

Malaysia's government on Tuesday agreed to release some 35,000 imported Bibles seized by customs officials amid a dispute over their use of the word «Allah» as a translation for God.

The decision was a major step by the Muslim-dominated government to soothe frustrations among religious minorities. Last week, Malaysia's main Christian group said it was fed up with authorities' refusal to allow the distribution of the Malay-language Bibles as the court case continues on whether non-Muslims have the constitutional right to use «Allah.»

In a development on Wednesday, another government minister is trying to reinstate the block on 5,000 of the Bibles in Port Klang.

“In Selangor – where Port Klang is – there is a state enactment that prohibits the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims,” says Fr Lawrence Andrew, editor of the Malaysian Catholic weekly, Herald. “The [enactment] is there, but it goes against the federal constitution.”

Fr Andrew also says there is an internal security act that allows for use of the Bible by Christians as long as they have been stamped with the words “For Christians Only.”

“So legally we Christians can have the Bible, but they are now putting restrictions because of the fear that this will confuse Muslims.”

Listen to Fr Lawrence Andrew’s full interview with Kelsea Brennan-Wessels: