KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 — Ahead of a planned protest by Muslim groups outside a Klang church this morning, a group of Malaysians of different religions have decided to band together to protect and support the Christians there.

Azrul Mohd Khalib, one of the co-ordinators of this “solidarity gathering” at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang, said it was born out of concern over the state of religious freedom in Malaysia.

Last Thursday’s raid of the Bible Society of Malaysia’s office by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) was the latest in a series of stand-offs between the Christians and Muslims in the country.

“Basically this proposed gathering outside the church tomorrow is where a lot of people have decided that enough is enough and we need to be able to protect our brothers and sisters.

“Malaysians have every right to practise their religion the way they see fit. We should not be in any way restricting or preventing or involving ourselves in any way which prevents them from doing so,” the human rights activist told The Malay Mail Online when contacted yesterday afternoon.

Azrul explained that the “solidarity gathering” was “inspired” by the events in Egypt during the toppling of the government there, where “Muslims held hands to form a band around churches that were threatened by the violence that was going on.”

A Facebook event page for the gathering titled “IN THE NAME OF ALLAH” was only started yesterday morning, but over 200 Malaysians including social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir had confirmed their attendance, Azrul said.

“There’s more than 200 persons who have confirmed going there to show solidarity with the Christian community in Klang,” he said, saying that the group cuts across religious and ethnic groups.

Marina confirmed that she intends to attend today’s gathering with some of her friends to show solidarity for the Christian community.

“I think it’s a terrible thing to protest at people who are going to a house of worship. We want to go and show solidarity to them,” the daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said when contacted yesterday afternoon.

When asked about the solidarity movement’s plans, Azrul stressed that it was not a rally and would be a “quiet, peaceful gathering” to avoid disrupting the church service.

“Basically it’s just to show solidarity, it is not to demonstrate or do some sort of a march,” he said, saying that the group will make their intentions and plans clear to the police officers stationed at the church.

“If it’s necessary that they join hands and form a human chain around the church, then it will happen,” he said.

The Bible Society of Malaysia is closed for a stock check following Thursday’s raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais). — Picture by Choo Choy May

He added that the participants of the solidarity gathering will disperse if the police issues instructions to do so.

While acknowledging that his open letter to the Selangor Sultan on the actions of Jais could have helped inspire the non-political grassroots movement, Azrul declined to take credit, saying that he was only “helping to move” it.

“It was started by a few persons who read the letter and said, ‘Let’s do this’,” he commented, before saying that Malaysians previously felt that they were unable to do anything over this matter.

The event page lists one Facebook user identified as Siti Kasim as its creator, and also carries a message reminding all that a “true Muslim cannot hurt a Christian in any way.”

“As a Muslim, it is our duty to protect Islam and its sanctity. We should never allow Islam to be desecrated by people who want to give Islam a bad name.

“I think it is high time, rightful thinking members of society gather together and prevent these people who are using the mask of ‘Islam’ to create dissention and intolerance,” part of the lengthy Facebook message read, before urging attendance “in solidarity with our Christian Brothers & Sisters.”

When asked if he was aware of the solidarity gathering, the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes’ parish priest Rev. Father Michael Chua said he did not know about the group’s plans.

“I have no knowledge of this. I appreciate the solidarity and the support but I hope that they will allow the police to do their duty. I’m confident that they will be co-operative,” he told The Malay Mail Online in a text message last night.

But a check of the Facebook event page much later indicated that the solidarity group had managed to get in touch with the Catholic priest to inform him of their plans.

The Klang church announced on Thursday that it would continue its services today, with parish priest Father Michael Chua asking parishioners to remain calm and avoid any confrontation with the protesters.

Yesterday, the Klang Muslims Solidarity Secretariat, confirmed that they will proceed with their rally in Klang against Christians over the latter’s insistence on using the Arabic word for God.

The rally today is expected to draw Muslims from around the Klang area, and participants were originally planned to gather at 9am before marching towards the 85-year-old Catholic church to deliver a memorandum expressing their dissatisfaction.

Among the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Klang Muslims Solidarity Secretariat coalition are Jalur Tiga Malaysia (Jati), Selangor Perkasa, Klang Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), and Pertubuhan Ikatan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Selangor (IKDDAS).

The South Klang police has assured the public that it will be providing protection for the church and patrol the area surrounding it today.

Members of Perkasa and other Muslim NGOs hold a rally outside the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya September 10, 2013. — Picture by Choo Choy May