Group calls for mass protest in Malaysia over Catholic use of ‘Allah’
August 20, 2013
Perkasa, a militant ethnic Malay and Muslim organization, has called upon Muslims to protest “in great numbers” if Malaysia’s leading prelate testifies in favor of Catholics’ right to use the word “Allah” to refer to God, according to a Malay Mail Online report.
While Christians in Malaysia have used the word in reference to God since the early seventeenth century, the Malaysian government forbade the use of the term in a Catholic newspaper, sparking a four-year legal battle.
Archbishop Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam of Kuala Lampur is expected to appear in court on August 22.
The nation of 29.2 million is 60% Muslim, 19% Buddhist, 6% Hindu, 6% Protestant, and 3% Catholic.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Perkasa to rally against Catholic Church as ‘Allah’ case in swing (Malay Mail Online)
- Malaysia: papal envoy voices regrets for uproar over using 'Allah' (CWN, 7/16)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
