General Zia ul Haq and PM Nawaz Sharif, in 1980s

Source: Christian Today

By Carey Lodge 07 July 2015

A number of Islamic terms have been banned from translation into English under a new law introduced by the Pakistani government.

The new legislation, approved by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on June 4, means that sacred Arabic names and words including ‘Allah’ (God), ‘Masjid’ (mosque) and ‘Sala’at’ (prayer) cannot be used in English.

According to website The Asian Age, the move has been commended by Islamic leaders in the country including Muftis Muhammad Naeem and Muneebur Rehman. Naeem said the decision should be “enforced in letter and spirit”, the website reported, while Rehman agreed that “some religious terms and names are best described in Arabic”.

The legislation comes in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which began on June 18.

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Christians in Pakistan are regularly subjected to religious discrimination, and Nasir Saeed, director of the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) which works to improve religious freedom in the country, has warned that the new law could have a significant impact on minority faith groups.

“Keeping in view the present situation of the country where extremism, fundamentalism and hatred against Christians and other religious minorities is on the rise…there is a possibility that this policy could have a negative impact, especially on the lives of non-Muslims who are already suffering because of the government’s discriminatory policies against them,” Saeed said.

“There is also the chance that people will misuse this provision if they consider any translation of any word offensive or insulting to any Islamic word.”

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