Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug 12, 2008 / 18:28 pm
The government of the predominantly Muslim country of Malaysia has accused The Herald, a Christian weekly newspaper, of violating publication rules by running articles considered political and insulting to Islam.
The Malaysian Home Ministry sent a letter to the Herald’s publisher warning that its June editions had “committed offenses” by highlighting the country’s politics instead of discussing the Christian issues for which it has been licensed. The letter charged the Herald with carrying an article that it said “could threaten public peace and national security” because it allegedly “denigrated Islamic teachings,” the Associated Press reports.
Like all media outlets in the country The Herald, which is the Catholic Church’s main publication in Malaysia, is required to obtain government licenses which must be renewed annually.
Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of the Herald, denied the allegations.