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| Southeast Asia |
| 8 held over church attacks |
| 2010-01-21 |
| [Straits Times] MALAYSIAN police said on Wednesday they have arrested eight people over the firebombing of a church earlier this month, the first in a spate of attacks that have escalated ethnic tensions. Federal criminal investigation chief Bakri Zinin said police were investigating whether the eight people were also linked to the attacks on 10 other churches, which were pelted with Molotov cocktails, stones and paint. The attacks on churches across predominantly Muslim Malaysia were triggered by a court ruling on Dec 31 that overturned a ban on non-Muslims using 'Allah' as a translation for 'God.' The suspects were all Malays from 21 to 26 years old, according to a police statement. Police tracked them down after one of them sought treatment at a hospital for burn injuries, Mr Bakri said. They could be charged with 'mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy' a place of worship, which is punishable by a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a fine. Police have obtained a court order to detain the men for at least a week pending further investigation. 'We believe we have solved this case,' Mr Bakri told a press conference on Wednesday. The attacks and the reaction by the majority Muslim Malay population have intensified concerns that Malaysia, traditionally a moderate Muslim country, is becoming more radical. |
| Posted by:Fred |