Malaysian Muslims demand action against apostolic nuncio for using term 'Allah'
July 15, 2013
Muslim activists in Malaysia are asking the government to expel to Pope’s representative for saying that Christians in the Asian country should be allowed to use the word “Allah” in reference to God.
In an interview with several journalists—in which, ironically, he was prompting inter-religious dialogue—Archbishop Joseph Marino said that Christians have made a “logical and acceptable” case for being allowed to use “Allah.” The country’s Catholic newspaper has won a landmark court case allowing the use of the word, pointing out that Christians have traditionally used the same term to refer to the Almighty.
Muslim activists, however, insist that the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims is blasphemous. Leaders of Islamic groups have demanded an apology from the Vatican and asked Prime Minister Najib Razak to take action against the papal representative.
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Further information:
- Muslim NGOs call for expulsion of Vatican envoy (The Star)
- Amid calls to act on Vatican envoy, PM Najib stays mum but silence is a double-edged sword (Malaysia Chronicle)
- Catholic Envoy in Malaysia Runs Into First Dustup (Wall Street Journal)
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