Non Muslims not allowed to discuss the usage of the word Allah?

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The latest in the ban of the use of the word "Allah" by non Muslims. Now you can't even discuss the ban?

It is amazing to me that Malaysia is the only country that has this ban ... and now again a "veiled" threat of violence? A very sad situation indeed.

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Monday March 23, 2009

Zahid warns Bar to end ‘unwise’ online poll

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has told the Bar Council to stop its online poll on the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.

He said it was “unwise” to carry out such a survey, as the move was seen by some quarters as a challenge to Muslims.

“If they (Bar Council) continue to play up the issue, the Muslims may rise and if they do, the Bar should not be angry but be willing to accept the consequences.

“This is the final warning for the Bar Council. Islamic religious matters come under the jurisdiction of the Malay Rulers and if they continue to dispute the authority’s decision on the issue (use of the word “Allah” in non-Islamic religious publications), it means they are disputing the power of the Rulers,” he told reporters after launching the ground-breaking ceremony of Sekolah Menengah Imtiaz here.

“I hope that as lawyers, they respect what has been brought to court. In fact, the Cabinet has decided to put a stop to discussing this issue, and in Parliament, I have put a full stop in having this issue being debated,” he said.

There is a pending judicial review challenging the ban on the use of the term “Allah” in non-Muslim publications.

Comments

  1. zMarch 24, 2009 at 12:01 PM

    you know, i'm just shooting off my mouth right now, but why is it so important for christians to use the word "allah" in m'sia?

    it reminds me of the debate over homosexual "marriage." i think a lot of christians go crazy over this because homosexuals insist on using the word "marriage," and i think that their cause would be better served if they would just adopt "civil unions" (that grant the same rights as heterosexual marriage).

    anyway both debates are probably more complicated but at the heart of it, i do wonder why certain words raise hackles more than others.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Paul LongMarch 24, 2009 at 12:20 PM

    Z I think I will respond to you with a new blog post on the topic.

    ReplyDelete
  3. zMarch 24, 2009 at 6:40 PM

    okay, i see now the issues at play. there's a really good literary reading here but my cold is fogging up my mind. need to go to bed.

    ReplyDelete

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