Malaysia: Christian evangelism to be banned?

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Malaysia | 25 July 2017

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Muhammed spoke out against groups calling for a ban on the spread of Protestant Christianity, reported Malay Mail Online on 17 June 2017. According to a further report on 20 June, the youth movement of the Islamic opposition party PAS repeated the demand for a ban and added that state laws were currently "insufficient to protect Islam". Meanwhile, the State of Kelantan announced the introduction of the Sharia penalty of public caning, sparking fears that plans to introduce full Sharia law throughout Malaysia have not yet been shelved, as AsiaNews reported on 13 July 2017. Thomas Muller, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "Fears that Protestant groups are conspiring to "˜Christianize" Muslim-majority Malaysia are nothing new. The deputy home minister"s claim that laws never helped curb religious movements is true as well, not just in Malaysia, but worldwide. However, given that the PAS has left the opposition coalition and that the ruling UMNO may look to it as a possible new coalition partner after the next election, Christians could be faced with increased restrictions in the future through renewed government interest in "˜protecting Islam"."