American Muslims raising funds to repair Malaysian churches
WASHINGTON (AP) — An American Muslim group has donated the first $1,000 to an account it established to pay for repairs to Christian churches that have been firebombed in Malaysia.
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, says CAIR is asking American Muslims and other people of good will to contribute.
Nine churches were attacked in recent days after Malaysia’s High Court struck down a government ban on non-Muslims using the word “Allah” to refer to God in their literature.
Hooper suggests that the ban was wrong-headed, since “Allah” is simply the Arabic word for God.
He says donations to the fund will be turned over to the Malaysian embassy for repairs to the damaged churches.
On the Net: www.cair.com
Sound:
<<CUT …367 (01/12/10)>> 00:11 “damaged in Malaysia”
Ibrahim Hooper
Ibrahim Hooper says the Council on American-Islamic Relations wants to help repair the churches that have been attacked in Malaysia in recent days.
<<CUT …368 (01/12/10)>> 00:12 “the word “Allah” (second reference)”
Ibrahim Hooper
Ibrahim Hooper says the controversy in Malaysia is needless.
<<CUT …369 (01/12/10)>> 00:11 “worshipped by everyone”
Ibrahim Hooper
Ibrahim Hooper says “Allah” is just the Arabic word for God.
<<CUT …370 (01/12/10)>> 00:18 “repair the damage”
Ibrahim Hooper
Ibrahim Hooper says CAIR has contributed the first $1,000 to an account it opened to repair the damaged Malaysian churches.
