There is an outpouring of sympathy for M Indira Gandhi in her bid to reverse the unilateral conversion of her children to Islam but doesn't her ex-husband deserve the same?

This was raised by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation (Mapim), which pointed out that K Patmanathan@Mohd Ridhuan Abdullah only has custody of one out of three children, all of whom he had converted to Islam without Indira's knowledge.

"There is a lot of sympathy for Indira. Separation in a family is traumatising for those involved. But what about Ridhuan? He is a father of three.

"Two of them are under Indira and her family's custody. They are being raised as Hindus without Ridhuan's agreement. He is also denied access to see them," said Mapim president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid in a comment piece in Harakahdaily .

Indira claimed her youngest daughter was snatched from her by Ridhuan when she was a toddler and had not seen her for seven years.

Azmi also criticised former law minister Zaid Ibrahim who chastised judges as "heartless" over a Court of Appeal decision which ruled against Indira's bid to reverse the conversion of her children.

The Court of Appeal refused to intervene in the matter, stating that Indira, who is a non-Muslim, must seek redress in the syariah court.

"If we take Zaid's words of sympathy for Indira, Ridhuan too is being denied the right to be with his two children, to live and care for them, to hug them as other fathers would.

"Do Ridhuan's feelings not matter and does he not deserve sympathy? Why must he be seen as a bad and cruel person in the media?

"Why is there double standard among liberals? Is it because he is a man and a Muslim?" he asked.

The Mapim president also blasted Zaid for suggesting that Indira was denied justice because she was a non-Muslim.

"It is highly irresponsible, very provocative and dangerous for Zaid to falsely claim that Indira was denied justice because she is a non-Muslim.

"The spurious accusation only serves to incite hatred between Muslims and non-Muslims and erode public confidence in the judiciary, rule of law and government," he said.

Azmi said while judges are not above criticism in a democracy, any criticism should be based on facts.

"Zaid's criticisms of the majority decision in Indira's case were not based on strong arguments but were insulting and emotional attacks.

"This should not be tolerated as it erodes public confidence in the country's judicial system," he added.