This news item, from Malaysia, caught my eye. Another fender-bender in the intersection between politics and religion.
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1, 2009 (AFP) - A Catholic newspaper in Malaysia has been ordered by the government to cease its Malay language edition until courts resolve a ban on the paper’s use of the word "Allah", its editor said Thursday. Herald newspaper editor Father Lawrence Andrew said the move was part of a series of restrictions put in place by the conservative Muslim government when it renewed the paper’s licence on Tuesday. The Herald, circulated among the country’s 850,000 Catholics, nearly lost its publishing licence last year for using the word "Allah" as a translation for "God," with authorities saying it should only be used by Muslims. "The Constitution says Malay is the national language so why can’t we use the national language in Malaysia?" he told AFP. He called the ban "unacceptable" and said he intended to take action.
Glory Be To Allah!
another bullying and discrimination of some fanatics
Don't those Malaysians realize that Christians throughout the Arab World - the birthplace place of Islam - form a large minority and use the word "Allah" in reference and worship to the Abrahamic God? The same god that all Muslims profess to worship in unison with Christians and Jews? Do these Malaysian politicians worship a different god?