KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) _ Malaysia’s government is condemning attacks on nine Christian churches as it seeks to assure foreign governments that it’s committed to religious freedom for minorities.
The firebombings, which started Friday, were apparently triggered by a Dec. 31 High Court ruling that overturned the government’s ban on Catholics’ using “Allah” to refer to God in their literature.
Christians on the island of Borneo worship in the Malay language and call God “Allah.”
The Malaysian Cabinet minister responsible for Islamic affairs called on Christian leaders Monday to drop their claim to the use of “Allah” to help ease tensions.
Malaysia’s Home Minister vowed Monday not to let the situation “get out of hand.”