News | Malaysia: Court Bans Christians From Using Word ‘Allah’

In an unfortunate turn of events for the more than 2 million Christians living in Malaysia, a local court has ruled that Christians will no longer be allowed to use the word 'Allah' to refer to God. According to the Vatican, Christians in Malaysia have been using the word 'Allah' to refer to God for nearly 400 years. The court’s decision comes after heavy pressure was exerted by radical Islamist groups who view the growth of Christianity in Malaysia as a threat to Malaysian culture. In late 2009, a court had ruled in favor of Christians using the word 'Allah', sparking protests and bombings at churches around the country. The Malaysian government stepped in to quell the protests by appealing the court decision. Christians in country have said they will appeal the decision to a higher court.