ROW: Christians in Malaysia usa Allah to refer to God

Malaysia Allah row: Church firebombed in Penang

BBC 27 January 2014 Last updated at 07:05 ET 

 Malaysian police have increased security around churches in Penang state after one was hit by petrol bombs in a row over the word "Allah".

Banners reading "Jesus is the son of Allah" were hung on several churches on Sunday, including the one targeted. It is not clear who was behind the attack.
Church leaders deny putting the banners up. The attack is seen as a reprisal.
People of all faiths use Allah in Malay to refer to God, but a court ruled last year that non-Muslims must not do so.
The appeals court ruling in October said that Allah must be exclusive to Islam or it could cause public disorder.
It overturned a 2009 decision pertaining to the use of "Allah" in a local Catholic newspaper, which sparked attacks on mosques and churches.
Christians in Malaysia argue they have used the word, which entered Malay from Arabic, to refer to their God for centuries and that the ruling violates their rights.

  The Malaysian government has said it will release 35,000 Bibles that use the word "Allah" in reference to God, which have been impounded for months.