'Allah' ban for Malaysian Christians 'violates free speech'

The decision by Malaysia's highest court to uphold a ban on non-Muslims using the word "Allah" to refer to God may have implications for free speech in the country, Amnesty International's Hazel Galang-Folli tells DW.

The top court dismissed on Monday a bid by the Catholic Church for the right to use the word "Allah", arguing that the Arabic word may be used only by Muslims. The ruling, which upheld a lower court decision siding with the government, is the latest chapter in a years-long legal battle that has heightened religious tensions in the Muslim-majority country.

The government had previously banned the use of "Allah" in the local Malay-language edition of The Catholic Weekly Herald. The Church had launched the court case, arguing that "Allah" had been used for centuries in Malay-language Bibles and other literature.

There has been confusion about the implications of the ruling by the Federal Court after the government issued a statement saying that the ban only applied to the newspaper.

In a DW interview, Hazel Galang-Folli, Amnesty International's (AI) researcher on Malaysia says that although the ruling specifically addresses the Catholic Herald, it sets a precedent to other non-Muslim publications.

DW: What is the Malaysian authorities' justification for reserving the use of the word "Allah" for Muslims?

Hazel Galang-Folli: The Malaysian authorities' main argument seems to be that if Christians are allowed to use the word "Allah" in reference to their God, it might confuse Muslims and cause them to convert to Christianity.

This, of course, ignores the fact that Malaysia's Christians, who account for about 9 percent of the country's population, have for centuries used this word as it is the Malay language word for "God."

What does the ruling amount to in terms of freedom of speech?

The ruling is a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression. The idea that non-Muslims could face prosecution for using a particular word is deeply disturbing. International human rights law is clear on this issue, and the ban is in direct violation of this. The Malaysian authorities must ensure they provide people in the country equal rights to freedom of expression and religion.

What are the different implications of this ruling?

Although the ruling specifically addresses the The Catholic Weekly Herald, it sets a precedent to other non-Muslim publications and may have implications to the exercise of free speech of other people in Malaysia. It is also a very dangerous ruling in another sense.

The dispute over whether Christians can use the word "Allah" dates back several years and has become deeply politicized. Religious tensions have been on the rise over the past years, and there is a real risk that this ruling will only inflame matters further.

Three churches in Kuala Lumpur were fire-bombed after a court ruled in the Catholic Church's favor in 2009, while the divisive ban has also sparked attacks on mosques. Earlier this year, Malaysian authorities seized hundreds of Malay-language Bibles containing the word Allah from a Christian group.

What punishment awaits those who violate the ban?

It is still unclear, a fact that adds to the uncertainty many in the Christian community now feel. However, the ruling sets a dangerous precedent, and more widely will have a chilling effect on the freedom of expression of religious minorities.

How have Christians throughout Malaysia reacted to the ruling?

Almost all Christians we have talked to have reacted with dismay. They are upset because they see the ban as unjust, they wonder what will happen next since it is not yet clear exactly how widely the ban will be implemented.

Furthermore, they increasingly fear for their own position in Malaysian society, with religious tensions on the rise.

How likely is it that Malaysian authorities will take further action to curtail the practice of other religions?

It is difficult to say at this stage. But Malaysia is a multiracial and multicultural nation comprised of people of many different faiths. The government must ensure that it promotes the human rights to freedom of expression and religion equally and without discrimination.

Hazel Galang-Folli is Amnesty International's Researcher on Malaysia