Tag: Malaysia

Islamic extremism on rise in Philippines

April 18, 2016 Philippines Abu Sayyaf, Indonesia, Islamic State, Malaysia, Mindanao, Philippines, Southeast Asia

Islamic extremism is growing in the southern Philippines, with alarming implications for the rest of Asia, reports . For more than four decades, Islamist groups have been engaged in an insurgency for an independent province in the Mindanao island group of southern Philippines. Several have now , while one of . . . Read More

Faith-based persecution on the rise in Asia-Pacific

March 31, 2016 Asia-Pacific, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Religious freedom, Taiwan

The first Asia-Pacific Religious Freedom Forum was held in Taiwan from 18-21 Feb, and hosted by former Vice-President of Taiwan, Annette Lu.World Watch Monitor Persecution due to people’s faith has increased over recent years in the Asia-Pacific region, said speakers addressing the first Asia-Pacific Religious Freedom Forum, held from . . . Read More

Malaysian court upholds right to convert from Islam

March 29, 2016 Malaysia 'Allah', Apostasy, Catholics, Kuching, Malaysia, Najib Razak, Sabah, Sarawak, Sharia

In a landmark ruling last week a Malaysian court upheld the rights of a Christian to convert from Islam. The judgment establishes a precedent in a country where religious conversions, particularly from Islam to Christianity, have been steeped in controversy. The verdict reaffirms the supremacy of the Federal Constitution, which . . . Read More

Malaysia returns ‘Allah’ CDs to owner

July 24, 2015 Malaysia 'Allah', Jill Ireland, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sarawak

The Malaysian Government conceded 23 July that Jill Ireland can have her audio compact discs containing the word “Allah.” Authorities had at a Kuala Lumpur airport when Ireland flew in from Indonesia, where she had acquired the CDs. The Appeal Court on 23 June had ordered the Government to return . . . Read More

Malaysia: Use of ‘Allah’ will get day in court

July 2, 2015 Malaysia 'Allah', Jill Ireland, Malaysia, Sarawak

Malaysia’s High Court on July 2 set a date to prepare the groundwork to hear arguments by Jill Ireland that she has the right to use the word “Allah” in reference to God. On June 23, the Court of Appeal ordered the government to return to Ireland a collection of . . . Read More

Malaysian Islamic authorities withdraw charges

June 25, 2015 Malaysia 'Allah', Islamic extremism, Jill Ireland, Malaysia

A bookstore manager will no longer be pursued in court by Malaysia’s Federal religious authorities for stocking a book that later became a banned item. Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz was arrested in June 2012 following the seizure of the book on 23 May 2012. But the book was only . . . Read More

Case of the disappearing Christian CDs: 7 years on, Malaysian court orders their return

June 24, 2015 Malaysia 'Allah', Borneo, Catholics, Hudud, Jill Ireland, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Lawrence Andrew, Malaysia, Petaling Jaya, Sabah, Sarawak

After a seven-year battle through the courts, yesterday (23 June) Jill Ireland, a Malaysian Christian finally won the right to re-gain her CDs of worship songs which include the word ‘Allah’. The Malaysian Court of Appeal ordered its Government to return the spiritual material to Ms Ireland. Her appeal had . . . Read More

A clash of courts in Malaysia

May 20, 2015 Malaysia Constitution, Islamic extremism, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Putrajaya, Sharia

A constitutional showdown over religion is taking shape in Malaysia, where the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council has asked the courts to decide whether Islamic laws can be held up to the scrutiny of the country’s federal constitution. At the center of the case is a Christian lawyer, Victoria Jayaseele . . . Read More

No decision on Malay Christian’s right to ‘Allah’

April 23, 2015 Malaysia 'Allah', Islamic extremism, Jill Ireland, Lawrence Andrew, Malaysia, Sarawak

Malaysia’s (highest) Court of Appeal, which today (23 April) heard an appeal by a Christian for the right to use the word ‘Allah’ for God, has not been able to agree a decision. Its three judges did not give a reason for their delayed judgment. Jill Ireland’s lawyer argued that . . . Read More

A battle lost, a campaign still to win

February 16, 2015 Malaysia 'Allah', Catholics, Jill Ireland, Kuala Lumpur, Lawrence Andrew, Malaysia, Sarawak, Selangor, The Herald

After a seven-year legal battle, Malaysia’s courts finally ruled against him. As of Jan. 21, Rev. Lawrence Andrew no longer can call God by the name “Allah” in his Catholic weekly newspaper, the Herald. In a country of 30 million people that is 60 percent Muslim, the courts agreed “Allah” . . . Read More

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