WCC expresses solidarity with churches under attack in Malaysia

13.01.10

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A ruling of Malaysia's High Court last month allowed non-Muslims to use the word "Allah" to refer to God, as in this Malay translation of the Book of Genesis. Photo: Flickr

In a 13 January solidarity letter to the churches in Malaysia, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit expressed deep concern and profound sorrow about recent attacks against church buildings in the country following a controversy over the right of Christians to use the term "Allah" to refer to God.

The controversy "generated by a small sector of Muslims" in the country is "very disturbing", Tveit said, especially as "Christians in majority Muslim countries all over the world, including [Malaysia's] neighbouring country Indonesia, have used the word 'Allah' for God for centuries".

Tveit expressed hope that "immediate action" is taken "by both the government and civil society to resolve the conflict, in order to avoid renewed hostilities and escalation of violence". He also found it heartening that "numerous Islamic organizations and leaders have publicly condemned these wanton acts of a small group of people".

Several church buildings have recently been attacked in Malaysia following a High Court ruling last month allowing non-Muslims to use the word "Allah" to refer to God. Muslim radical groups see this as a Christian subterfuge to win converts from Islam. The government has appealed the High Court decision.

About 9 percent of the Malaysian population are Christians, while Muslims amount to 48 percent. Most non-Muslims are ethnically Indian or Chinese.

Full text of the letter

WCC member churches in Malaysia

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Comments

Mbosowo Usanga, Nigeria-Africa 15-01-10 13:56:

It is quite unfortunate that this could be happening at this dispensation. i thought that the muslims would see this as an avenue to even win converts. Why are they so afraid. and what are they afraid of. And i wonder what the real meaning of Allah is? come to think of it, it might that it is the ignorant few that are causing all of this problems. They should go back and read their Koran and see what it says about their ignorant actions.

my2cents , 15-01-10 15:27:

malaysia is very corrupted, maybe outside of the goverment curtains you cant see anything but i can tell you this :

everyone @ malaysia working for the goverment or law enforcement etc are muslims. lesser then 5% are other races. you think malaysia goverment would gladly solve the matter? i dont think so. most probally they will delay the matter and eventually forget about it OR get a scrapgoat to cover up the damage.

anyone in malaysia that are not muslims face racism. unless you are rich, or you have value to them. or else you are nothing. healthcare, benefits, nothing.

all benefits goes to muslims, everything earned by non muslims are ripped off. sick of malaysia.

Paul , 16-01-10 01:56:

Pray for Malaysia, I believe in spite of all these uncertainty, our God is still in control. Although it is quite difficult for Malaysian Christians to stand up for their rights, i believe the first steps have been taken. Apart from the use of the word Allah there are many unfair and unjust laws that has been enacted to prevent and restrict any other religion then Islam. What we hope the international community will do is keep the issue alive until just changes are brought about.

Bob Kee, Malaysia 16-01-10 02:56:

The report is generally quite factual except for some points:

* More than 60% of Malaysia's Christians are Malay speaking indigenous people

* Muslims make up about 60% of the entire Malaysian population

These are based on the 2000 Census report and could have changed slightly since then.

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