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

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

Malaysian pastor Raymond Koh’s kidnap inquiry halted
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’

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 court upholds right to convert from Islam

Malaysian court upholds right to convert from Islam
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

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

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