Tag: Sarawak

Malaysian Federal Court refuses four people their right to affirm Christian identity

February 27, 2018 Malaysia Apostasy, Converts, Divorce, Hudud, Islamic extremism, Kuching, Malaysia, Marriage, Religious freedom, Sarawak, Sharia

The Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, Malaysia. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Malaysia’s highest court dismissed an appeal today (27 February) against four appellants who wanted to be formally recognised as Christians. The five judges of the Malaysian Federal Court ruled that in matters of conversion away from Islam, it was necessary for them to consult the Islamic Sharia courts. The president . . . Read More

Malaysian pastor Raymond Koh’s kidnap inquiry halted

January 19, 2018 Malaysia Borneo, Converts, Joshua Hilmy, Kidnapping, Malaysia, Minorities, Police, Proselytism, Putrajaya, Raymond Koh, Religious freedom, Sabah, Sarawak

The fragile hopes of a Malaysian family in search of answers to the abduction of church leader Raymond Koh were dashed by a surprise development on Wednesday (17 January). Almost a year after Koh went missing, after little or no progress in police investigations, Malaysia’s newest Inspector General of Police . . . Read More

Jill Ireland back in court as Malaysia considers Christians’ right to call God ‘Allah’

October 27, 2017 Malaysia 'Allah', Borneo, Islamic extremism, Jill Ireland, Kuala Lumpur, Lawrence Andrew, Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, The Herald

This is a Bahasa speaking church meeting in East Malaysia where 'Allah' is used to refer to God. In 1986, the Malaysian government banned the usage of this word by Christians. The Catholic Herald fought against this ban for seven years in court but finally lost. This battle continues with the Jill Ireland case. (See article - Jill Ireland Case on 'Allah' Far from Over)

A Malaysian Christian woman’s campaign for Christians’ right to use the word “Allah” for “God” has resumed in Malaysia’s High Court. Jill Ireland has been campaigning for Christians’ right to use the word ever since immigration officials at a Kuala Lumpur airport seized eight Christian CDs from her in May . . . Read More

Malaysian Muslim’s right to convert appealed

May 3, 2016 Malaysia Borneo, Constitution, Converts, Malaysia, Religious freedom, Sarawak, Sharia

An appeal has been lodged against a landmark ruling by the Malaysian High Court that a Sarawak Muslim can officially convert to Christianity. just ahead of the 24 April deadline. The reasons for the appeal need to be revealed within eight weeks. Rebit was born into a Christian family that . . . 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

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

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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