KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has ruled that Christians nationwide are allowed to use the word "Allah" and three other Arabic words in their religious publications for educational purposes.
The three other words are Baitullah, Kaabah and solat.
This came following the decision by Justice Nor Bee Ariffin who allowed a judicial review by a Christian woman of Melanau descent, Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, to practice her constitutional rights of practising her religion in the country.
She had come to the High Court here on Wednesday (March 10) to deliver the ruling as she has since been elevated to become a Court of Appeal judge.
In 2008, Customs officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang had seized from Jill Ireland, a clerk, eight CDs entitled “Cara Hidup Dalam Kerajaan Allah”, “Hidup Benar Dalam Kerajaan Allah” and “Ibadah Yang Benar Dalam Kerajaan Allah”.
Jill Ireland then filed for a judicial review to challenge the seizure of the CDs as well as seeking declarations from the court that her constitutional rights were violated, among others.
In her decision, Justice Nor Bee said a directive by the Home Ministry not to allow the use of the four prohibited words, including Allah, by non-Muslims is an "illegality" and "irrationality".
"It is no dispute it (the material) was for her personal religious edification," Justice Nor Bee said.
When contacted, Senior Federal Counsel Shamsul Bolhassan confirmed that four words can be used by Christians.
"However, publications that contain the four words must carry a disclaimer that it is intended for Christians only as well as a cross symbol," he said.
MORE TO COME
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
