Police Responsible for Disappearance of Pastor in Malaysia, Rights Commission Concludes

Calls made for government to reopen investigation.

(Morning Star News) – A human rights committee in Malaysia has concluded that police officers were responsible for the 2017 disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh, according to published reports. The prime minister of Malaysia told reporters late Wednesday (April 3) that the government would investigate the abduction of the pastor and the 2016 disappearance of […]

Christians in Malaysia to Fight for Rights after Court Ruling on Conversion

Legal clarity remains elusive.

(Morning Star News) – In the wake of the highest court in Malaysia refusing to hear an appeal by four Christians wanting to officially convert out of Islam, Christian leaders continued to hold hope for change. In a country where there is no legal way to leave Islam, the four people were asking the Federal […]

Highest Court in Malaysia to Hear Appeal of Christian Converts from Islam

Four people seek to have their faith legally recognized.

(Morning Star News) – On Monday (Feb. 26) the highest court in Malaysia is scheduled to hear the appeal of four people who wish to have their conversions from Islam to Christianity legally recognized. In a country where there is no legal way to leave Islam, the four people are asking the Federal Court to […]

Converts from Islam in Malaysia Detained in ‘Faith Purification Centers’

Violators of sharia sentenced – or arbitrarily sent – to re-education camps.

(Morning Star News) – Converts to non-Islamic faiths in Malaysia can be detained for more than three months in “Faith Purification Centers.” While some converts are arbitrarily arrested and sent to the centers, detention in one of the three camps is “slowly gaining preference among sharia judges in Malaysia” as an alternative to prison sentencing, […]

Christian Lawyer in Malaysia Loses Appeal to Practice in Sharia Courts

Muslims who wish to change their religion must use Muslim attorneys.

(Morning Star News) – Victoria Jayaseele Martin yesterday lost her appeal to represent clients in Malaysia’s sharia (Islamic law) courts. Why would a Christian lawyer want to practice in an Islamic court? In Malaysia all ethnic Malays are Muslim, according to the constitution. Because of a number of affirmative action privileges for Malays, any ethnic […]

Case in Malaysia Could Decide if Sharia Supersedes Constitution

Decision against Christian attorney could impede Malay conversions from Islam.

(Morning Star News) – A case involving the constitutional position of sharia (Islamic law) courts in the Malaysian legal system could strengthen the power of the courts to block Malay conversions from Islam. In the potentially landmark case, that had been scheduled to be heard today, the Federal Territory Islamic Council claims that sharia courts are separate […]

‘Defending Islam’ Guarantees Impunity as Malaysia Bans Non-Muslims from Using ‘Allah

Islamist advocates burning Bibles containing the forbidden word.

(Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin) – Little inflames Malaysia’s Muslim fundamentalists more than the fact that Malaysian Christians use the word “Allah,” even though it is just the Malay word for God, adopted from Arabic centuries ago. The issue has gained traction in recent decades as Malaysian Muslims have radicalized, as Malaysia has gradually Islamized and, […]

Raid on Bible Society of Malaysia Legally Unfounded, Critics Say

Bibles seized, BSM leaders temporarily detained.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Morning Star News) – Calling this month’s raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) “a flagrant violation of religious liberty” via his website, the director of a Christian research institute in Malaysia said the agency that arrested two BSM officials has produced no evidence that the BSM violated any law. Aided by […]

Shocked, but Not Surprised: Court in Malaysia Bars Non-Muslims from Using ‘Allah’

Arabic word pre-dating Islam common in Malay-language Bibles.

(Morning Star News) – The ruling today by an appeals court in Malaysia to ban non-Muslims from using the word Allah to refer to God is shocking but not surprising. Borrowed from the Arabic like other words in the Malay language, Allah is the common word for God in Malay Bibles. The word predates Islam, […]