Malaysia: ban on 'Allah' upheld

Malaysia ban on 'Allah' upheld
<http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/05/200952894123668106.html>

The Catholic church in Malaysia has failed in a bid to suspend a government
ban on the use of the word "Allah" in its weekly newsletter after the court
rejected its application.

--snip--

The government directive bars non-Muslims from translating God as "Allah" in
their literature, saying it would confuse Muslims in this plural,
Muslim-majority country.

--snip--

In 2007, the government issued a warning over The Herald's use of the word
"Allah", which officials had said could only be used to refer to the Muslim God.

Christian groups say the ban is unconstitutional, arguing that the word
"Allah" predates Islam.

--snip--

S Selvarajah, a lawyer for The Herald, told Al Jazeera the court said about 10
Malaysian states had similar prohibitions on non-Muslims' use of the word "Allah".

--snip--

"We'll wait for July when the court will hear the parties and decide on the
matter once and for all."

--snip--

The minorities have often said their constitutional right to practice their
religion freely has come under threat from the Malay Muslim-dominated government.

The government has repeatedly denied any discrimination against the country's
ethnic minorities.