[UPDATED] Govt drops appeal against allowing Christians to use ‘Allah’ for education

KUALA LUMPUR – The government has withdrawn its appeal against a high court ruling that Christians nationwide are allowed to use the word “Allah” and three other Arabic words for their religious education purposes. 

The Attorney-General’s Chambers, on behalf of the Home Ministry, had notified the Court of Appeal on April 18 that it does not wish to pursue the appeal, FMT reported today.  

The portal also reported that lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla, who represented the Selangor, Kedah, and Federal Territories religious councils, had only been notified of the withdrawn appeal this morning.

On March 10, 2021, Court of Appeal judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin, sitting as a high court judge, had allowed a judicial review application on the matter by a Sarawakian Christian, Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill. 

The ruling rendered invalid a circular issued by the Home Ministry against the word Allah being used by Christian publications in the country.

The three other words also allowed by the ruling are “Baitullah,” “Kaabah,” and “solat.”

In the application, Jill Ireland had sought, among others, a declaration that it is her constitutional right to have access to Christian publications in the exercise of her rights to practise her religion and to education, as provided under Article 11 of the federal constitution.

She also wanted the court to declare unconstitutional and unlawful the Home Ministry’s 1986 circular to ban the word “Allah” in Christian publications.

Justice Nor Bee, in her ruling, held that the 1986 directive is filled with illegality and irrationality, adding that the four words could also be used by Christians for teaching purposes as they have been in use for over 400 years.

On August 20, 2008, Jill Ireland commenced a judicial review application for the return of eight CDs seized from her on May 11, 2008, upon her arrival at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang. 

The CDs bore the titles “Cara Hidup Dalam Kerajaan Allah,” “Hidup Benar Dalam Kerajaan Allah,” and “Ibadah Yang Benar Dalam Kerajaan Allah.”

In July 2014 the high court had held that the Home Ministry was wrong to seize the CDs and ordered them returned, but did not decide on the constitutional issues raised by Jill Ireland.

In June 2015, the Court of Appeal had directed the Home Ministry to return the CDs after dismissing an appeal by the ministry and government. – The Vibes, May 15, 2023