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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) A Malaysian appeals court on Monday upheld a government ban against the use of the word "Allah" to refer to God in non-Muslim faiths, overruling claims by Christians in this Muslim-majority nation that the restriction violates their religious rights.

"Allah" is the Arabic word for God and is commonly used in the Malay language to refer to God. But the Malaysian government insists that "Allah" should be exclusively reserved for Muslims because of concerns its use by others would confuse Muslims and could be used to convert them.

Malaysia's Christian, Buddhist and Hindu minorities have often complained that the government infringes in their constitutional right to practice religion freely, accusations the government denies.

Monday's judgment in the Court of Appeals overturns a decision by a lower court nearly four years ago that ruled against the government ban. Anger over that ruling sparked a string of arson attacks and vandalism at Malaysian churches and other places of worship.

The legal dispute stems from efforts by the newspaper of the Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia to use "Allah" in its Malay-language weekly publication.

Roman Catholic representatives deny there are attempts to convert Muslims and say the government ban is unreasonable because Christians who speak the Malay language had long used "Allah" in their Bibles, literature and songs before authorities sought to enforce the curb in recent years.

Judge Mohamed Apandi Ali, who led a three-member appeals court panel, said the use of "Allah" was "not an integral part of the faith and practice of Christianity."

"It is our judgment that there is no infringement of any constitutional rights" in the ban, he said. "We could find no reason why the (Catholic newspaper) is so adamant to use the word 'Allah' in their weekly. Such usage if allowed will inevitably cause confusion within the community."

The Rev. Lawrence Andrew, editor of the Catholic newspaper, The Herald, said they plan to appeal Monday's verdict in Malaysia's Federal Court, the nation's highest.

"We are greatly disappointed and dismayed," he said. "This is unrealistic. It is a retrograde step in the development of law in relation to the fundamental liberty of religious minorities."

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Malaysia court rules non-Muslims can't use 'Allah'

BY LEE SHI-IAN October 13, 2013

Whatever the outcome of tomorrow's ruling on whether the Roman Catholic Church can use the word "Allah" in its weekly publication the Herald, it will definitely impact Malaysia and the international community, said PAS central committee member Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (pic).

Mujahid said no matter what the Court of Appeal decides, politicians will continue to raise the issue and Islamist parties like PAS will be tested in its call for the freedom of faith.

"Malays will be tested in their pursuit of defending Islam but at the same time complying with Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, where the freedom of faith is protected," he told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Mujahid added that the theory that Christians proselytise Muslims will increase and they will be seen as the enemy of Islam.

The Parit Buntar MP said there were several issues which the appellate court would take into consideration, including Islam as the religion of the state and multi-racial dynamics.

He felt that the influence of the ruling party, Umno, may play a part.

"The issue also covers the freedom of the press, as Catholics were banned from using the word 'Allah' in their publication The Herald. But the High Court ruled that the ban was contradicting the notion of freedom, despite the publication being limited to Christians only," WSJ reported Mujahid as saying.

"However, I think that the issue was given such a highlight for the purpose of political gain instead of exploring a brighter future in interfaith relations.

"Both Umno and PAS will be forced to play the racial and religious card for the purpose of wooing voters.

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Call to clamp down on 'gay' word

5:43am Saturday 12th October 2013 in National News Press Association 2013

Chart star Will Young has said more should be done to clamp down on homophobic language and the use of the word "gay" as an insult in schools.

The Leave Right Now singer said he had even taken up the issue with Education Secretary Michael Gove who he said had been "encouraging".

Young drew attention to his concerns writing in the Independent On Sunday this weekend, as the paper publishes its annual Pink List of powerful gay and lesbian figures.

The Pop Idol winner, who came out shortly after winning the show and has gone on to have an enduring music career, said the issue had to be addressed.

He writes: "A few months ago I attended a teachers/education conference at the Barbican organised by Stonewall.

"Through the various seminars I attended I picked up one recurring theme, teachers and heads of schools were more than often not backed up by local authorities when it came to homophobic language.

"Michael Gove attended the conference and I put it to him that this use of the word gay as a derogatory form of description HAD to be addressed. His reaction, I was pleased to say, was attentive and encouraging. Let's see words turn into actions Michael."

The Pink List 2013 will see broadcaster Clare Balding - who was awarded an OBE this year - ranked as the highest placed celebrity when she is placed at number two when it is published on Sunday.

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Call to clamp down on 'gay' word

MAITLAND, Fla., Oct. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Within the pages of her new book, THE WORD OF GOD IS WORKING: EVERY TIME AND EVERYWHERE ($11.99, paperback, 9781628390421; $5.99, e-book, 9781628390452) Pastor Mary I. Ehichioya explains that the Christian is a product of the Word of God and that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Word of God. According to the author, the Christian is one with the Word, has the life of the Word and is the Word of God in the flesh. Furthermore, Pastor Ehichioya states that her expectation is that her readers will know the value of God's Word, develop the mindset of the Word of God, and as a result, the Word will bear the fruits of God's promises and their lives will be "programmed" for success.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131012/MN95455)

"The book explains the importance and power of words to the individual," states the author. "It explains that words are containers, vehicles that carry and transport faith and fear, love and hate, life and death. Many people are victims of the words of their mouths, and they do not know it."

Pastor Mary I. Ehichioya is a born again, Spirit-filled, matured daughter of the Most High God. She shares, "Early in my Christian life, my Heavenly Father, permitted me to go through an experience that taught me faith in the ever living and awesome God of all creation. I have come to know that the Word of God is true and powerful; that there is an eternally defeated devil out there, who still tries to deceive people. The full story of my experience is published in 'PRESERVED BY GRACE: HOW I OVERCAME THE FORCES OF DARKNESS.'"

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Communications, is the world's largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 8,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order THE WORD OF GOD IS WORKING: EVERY TIME AND EVERYWHERE through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. The book is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

Media Contact: Pastor Mary I. Ehichioya, Xulon Press, 866-381-2665, mehich1@yahoo.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

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New Xulon Book Gives Great Detail on the Power of Words

Coquitlam, BC, Canada (PRWEB) October 10, 2013

Moon Willow Press (MWP)--a micro-press committed to helping sustain forests while celebrating the written word--is seeking book submissions for 2014-2015. The press launched in 2010, began publishing print titles in 2011, and has a growing book catalog. Located in Coquitlam, British Columbia, MWP publishes fiction, non-fiction, and prose that explore science, nature, and culture. The submission guidelines have recently expanded to include more genres. First-time authors are given consideration.

MWP is looking for novel-length fiction (80,000 words minimum) and non-fiction:

Fiction

Nature/environmental Fantasy Science-fiction Climate-fiction (cli-fi) Historical fiction Regional fiction Literary fiction Folkore/legendary Romance Mythology

Non-Fiction Topics

Conservation and preservation Renewable and healthy energy Land, water, and air pollution and restoration Natural resource depletion Changing agricultural dynamics Effects of climate variations Genetic engineering Environmental policy Traditional and quantum physics Academic studies in biology, chemistry, oceanography, geology, and so on And more!

Poetry is a very low priority at this time. Anthologies and short-story collections will be considered. Authors receive 50% post-Amazon-fee royalties on e-books.

Environmental ethic: MWP donates a percentage of sales to Eco-Libris, which works with world tree-planting partners in Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Malawi, and other areas that suffer from deforestation. Eco-Libris tree-planting program provides a valued source of economic and ecological aid to these areas. MWP has also signed the Book Treatise on Environmentally Responsible Publishing and chooses printers that use recycled and FSC-certified fiber.

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Moon Willow Press Accepting Book Submissions for 2014-2015