Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) today said the willingness of certain Muslims in defending Christians have given rise to extremists within the community, particularly among the evangelists.

"The split among Muslims is becoming serious when Christian extremists - especially among the evangelists - become more daring in openly challenging the position of Islam, the sultan and law as provided under the federal constitution.

"Every time Muslims sincerely stand up to defend the position of Islam, they are criticised.

"But when Christians challenge Islam - such as the stubborness of churches in using the word 'Allah' - there are Muslims there to defend them,” Isma vice-president Rahman Mat Dal said in a press statement today.

He appeared to be referring to a group of Muslims - including social activist Marina Mahathir (far right) - who yesterday stood guard outside the Lady of Lourdes Church in Klang in solidarity amid protest by another conservative Muslim group nearby.

He also slammed Umno leaders, accusing them of not having the "manhood" to defend Islam.

In a separate press statement, Isma political bureau secretary Hazizi Ab Rahman challenged Selangor DAP to go ahead and table its proposal to amend the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988 which bans non-Muslims from using the word 'Allah'.

"We want to see what are the reactions, especially among Muslim state assemblypersons within Pakatan Rakyat," he said.

Hazizi acused Selangor DAP of complicating the situation and challenging the position of Islam in the state.