Malaysian church official in ‘Allah’ ban case says his lawyer’s office broken into, ransacked
By APWednesday, January 13, 2010
Lawyers’ office in ‘Allah’ case ransacked
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A church official says burglars have ransacked the office of the lawyers who are fighting for Christians’ right to use the word “Allah” to refer to God in this Muslim-majority country.
Rev. Lawrence Andrew says staff of lawyer S. Selvarajah found locks were broken when they came to the office Thursday. He says the drawers were ransacked and papers strewn over the floor. The staff and police are checking if anything was stolen.
He says it appears to be “a kind of intimidation maybe.”
Selvarajah and police could not immediately be reached.
On Dec. 31, a High Court ruled on a petition by Andrew that a Catholic publication can use “Allah” as a translation in its Malay language edition. The government has appealed the ruling.
