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: