Catholics banned from worshipping 'Allah'

The Roman Catholic Church was banned by a Malaysian court from using the word “Allah” today.

The court upheld a government ban that has become a symbol of religious tensions in the Muslim-majority country.

The federal government blocks non-Muslims in Malaysia from translating God as “Allah” in their literature, saying it would confuse Muslims.

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

The Malaysian high court rejected an appeal by the church’s main publication in the country, the Herald, to have the ban suspended while waiting for a court decision on the ban’s legality.

The high court will hear the Herald’s original appeal against the 2007 ban on July 7.

It ruled today that suspending the ban would contravene the laws of some states that impose similar bans.

The ban affects the Malay-language edition of the Herald, which is read mostly by indigenous tribes who converted to Christianity decades ago.

The Mandarin, English and Tamil editions do not use the word “Allah”.

About 60% of Malaysia’s 27 million people are Muslim Malays. A third of the population is ethnic Chinese and Indian, and many practise Christianity.

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