http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/six-churches-attacked-in-muslim-protests/story-e6frg6so-1225817854306


Six churches attacked in Muslim protests 
  a.. From: The Australian 
  b.. January 11, 2010 12:00AM 
KUALA LUMPUR: Another two churches were firebombed yesterday, taking to six the 
total of attacks in three days of unrest following a court decision allowing 
Christians and other non-Muslims to use "Allah" to refer to God. 

Hundreds of worshippers whose parish church was partly gutted in a firebomb 
attack last week gathered at a makeshift prayer hall for their Sunday service 
and called for national unity and an end to violence.

A Molotov cocktail was hurled at the All Saints Church in Taiping town in 
central Perak state early yesterday before it had opened, said state police 
chief Zulkifli Abdullah. He said the building was not damaged. Also yesterday, 
a bottle of kerosene was thrown into St Louis Catholic Church, which wasn't 
damaged.

Four churches were hit by petrol bombs on Friday and Saturday. All except the 
Metro Tabernacle, whose parishioners moved their services, suffered little 
damage, and no one was hurt. The other three held normal services yesterday.

The unprecedented attacks have set off a wave of disquiet among Malaysia's 
minority Christians and strained their ties with the majority Muslims.

The dispute is over a December 31 High Court decision that overturned a 
government order banning non-Muslims from using the word Allah in their prayers 
and literature. The court was ruling on a petition by Malaysia's Catholic 
Church, whose main publication, the Herald, uses Allah in its Malay-language 
edition. The government has appealed against the verdict.

The government contends that making Allah synonymous with God may confuse 
Muslims and ultimately mislead them into converting to Christianity.

Prime Minister Najib Razak visited the Metro Tabernacle church late on Saturday 
and announced a grant of 500,000 ringgit ($160,323) for rebuilding it at a new 
location.

AP

Related Coverage
  a.. Two more churches attacked in 'Allah' row Adelaide Now, 15 hours ago
  b.. Malaysia churches burnt The Australian, 2 days ago
  c.. Churches attacked as Allah row worsens Adelaide Now, 2 days ago
  d.. 'Allah' again banned for non-Muslims Adelaide Now, 4 days ago
  e.. Fort Hood suspect wakes from coma Herald Sun, 10 Nov 2009


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Reply via email to