I refer to the letter Make penalty clear to converts by BOLH.

I totally agree with BOLH on this point. In fact, I would like to go one step further. I would like to request all religious affairs departments in Malaysia to recall all converts and explain to them the penalty for apostasy, if they had missed doing so before. After that, let the converts choose once again whether they want to stay as Muslim or not.

This, I think will rid us of all problems arising from mistaken conversion. Religion is a serious issue. It defines your identity. If one can simply throw away one's religion, what is stopping him or her from throwing his or her humanity away as well?

Also, in response to BCN , the classification the writer refers to only exists in the constitution of Malaysia and is not necessarily a classification of Islam. Furthermore, if a Muslim child is raised by a Christian family and is still a Christian after reaching puberty, the child is considered as Christian and not Muslim.

As for marriage, it is a prerequisite that the bride and groom be Muslim in Islam. I am strongly against conversion on the basis of marriage alone. I believe that when you convert to Islam, you do so with full and complete responsibility.

As for differences of opinion, I think there aren't any considering that the matter is steeply based on 'ijma' or consensus. Those who resist 'ijma' or consensus have deviated or at least have erred.

Please remember that Islam is not a mere faith and value system. It is a comprehensive way of life. Islam not only tells you about what to believe, but also how to live like a believer. When one leaves Islam, the ramifications are not mere belief-based alone. They have legal as well as social ramifications as well. In other words, many people will be effected by one person's apostasy, whether legally or socially.