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Do not ban usage of "Allah" |
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Local Alerts
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Saturday, 16 January 2010 |
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The
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) strongly protests the
government's ban on the usage of the word "Allah" by the non- Muslims
in the Peninsular, as pronounced by Minister in the Prime Minister
Department, Nazri Abdul Aziz. By perpetuating the myth that
multi-religious usage of the word causes racial and religious discord,
the government indirectly encourages a violent reaction against those
who challenge the ban.
On 15 Jan, Nazri Abdul Aziz said in an
interview that the usage of "Allah" is allowed for non- Muslims in the
East Malaysia but forbidden for Christian publications and sermons in
the Peninsula. He told journalists from the media group KTS's dailies of Borneo
Post, Utusan Borneo and Oriental Daily that the ban is to preserve
harmony among groups in Peninsular Malaysia. On 5 January, Nazri
disputed the High Court ruling permitting the word's usage by Catholic
weekly Herald on the same grounds. Following the ruling, ten
churches and a Sikh temple have been attacked with petrol bombs,
molotov cocktails or otherwise vandalised.
However the violence
has clearly been caused by the ban, rather than by the use of the word
'Allah'. The word is being used in East Malaysia peacefully and has
been used by non-Muslim communities in the Peninsula without incident.
State censorship and clampdown of alternative views has deepened the
so-called sensitivity and confusion. Research into preventing ethnic
conflict has repeatedly shown that a diverse, mature media is one of
the key factors in violence prevention.
In this context, CIJ is concerned that the police have discouraged a
forum on the issue that was held on 11 Jan, and by reports that the
Prime Minister has implicitly instructed editors to censor coverage of
the opposition coalition's views on the banning of the word 'Allah'.
What is needed to diffuse tension is encouraging of public discussion
and debate, with all sides being given time to present their views.
By applying for a stay order against the Catholic Herald, the
Government is perpetuating the view that the Christian newspaper is to
blame for the violence. What is needed is an investigation into the
root cause of this controversy, the ban itself.
The
government should stop promoting ahistorical views which ignore the
fact that the word "Allah" predates Islam and the experience where
"Allah" has been used by other faiths peacefully. CIJ calls on the
government to allow the court ruling in favors of multi-religious usage
of the word "Allah" to take effect.
Issued by
Sonia Randhawa
Director
For more information please contact Wai Fong at 03 4023 0772
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