Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
(Agenzia Fides) - The Federal Court of Malaysia has set the first hearing of the appeal (the third instance) for January 21, 2015, presented by the Catholic Church regarding the prohibition of the use of the word "Allah" in the publications of Herald, the diocesan weekly in Kuala Lumpur. As Agenzia Fides learns by lawyers who represent the Catholic Church, the parties shall submit their written arguments to the supreme organ of judgment by 7 January.
The Church lodged the appeal on September 9, asking for a review of the appeal, issued in June 2013, which prohibited the Catholic weekly the use of the word "Allah" to refer to God, reserving it only to Muslims. According to the pool of lawyers, the action is based primarily on the defense of certain basic principles of social and civil coexistence: the application of the Constitution, which provides for religious freedom, and the protection of minority rights. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 18/11/2014)
