The government of Malaysia will release 35,000 Malay-language Bibles that were held up by customs officials.

Government official had blocked the distribution of the Scriptures, because they use the word 'Allah' for God.

"We maintain the position that it is an inalienable right for Christians to read their scriptures in any language," Rev. Hermen Shastri, general secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia, told BBC News, adding this was a "basic human right."

Last year, a court ruling gave Christians the right to use the word 'Allah' in their printed materials. However, the government has challenged that ruling because they said it would be confusing for Muslims.

The Malaysian prime minister's office said the government chose to release the Bibles because it was "committed to resolve amicably any inter-faith issues." It also said this decision would not jeopardize any future resolution of the larger legal conflict.

The Bibles will be stamped, "For Christians Only." to prevent anyone from trying to convert Muslims.