Christian Churches Attacked in Malaysia

(January 9, 2010) Several Protestant churches and one Catholic Church were attacked Wednesday night in Kuala Lumpur. The attacks occurred hours after the government announced it would reinstate a ban prohibiting non-Muslims from using the word "Allah." On December 31, the Kuala Lumpur High Court overruled the ban, which was instated three years ago, affirming that it was unconstitutional and that the word "Allah" is not exclusive to Islam. It granted the Catholic daily Herald, which was using the word as a translation for God in the Malay language section of the periodical, permission to print "Allah." However, the government announced Wednesday it would suspend the ban after days of protests on the part of Muslim groups who say that Christians and other minorities should not use "Allah" for "fear of confusing Muslims." An explosion damaged the administrative offices of Metro Tabernacle Church, a Protestant church in Kuala Lumpur. Molotov cocktails were thrown into several other churches, including the Catholic Church of the Assumption in Petaling Jaya. No injuries were reported. Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of the Catholic weekly said that in an attempt to not exacerbate the violence, the newspaper will not use the word Allah "until the judiciary issues the final ruling." Muslims constitute some 60% of the country's 28 million people. In the meantime AP reported that three churches in Malaysia were attacked with firebombs, causing extensive damage to one. Prime Minister Najib Razak condemned the attacks on the churches by unidentified assailants, who struck before dawn in different suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. He said the government would «take whatever steps it can to prevent such acts. »