I refer to Abdul Rahman Abdul Talib's letter titled, Apostasy no justification for Islam to change policy .

One may be free to believe whatever one wants to believe. But that freedom stops when it is imposed on others who may well have other ideas.

The justification in rejecting 10th to 12th century apostasy laws is that the worldview and social paradigm has changed. Today we are not a Caliphate fighting for survival in a world split into a Dar-ul-Harb and Dar-ul-Islam. Malaysia is a parliamentary democracy with 40 percent non-Muslim population. They are not 'dhimmis' and they have equal rights before the law.

Therefore how we view apostasy must change according to the prevailing worldview. If Abdul Rahman is so strict on adhering to syariah - then why not stone adulterer's to death? Perhaps CNN would be glad to broadcast the stoning of adulterers at the Dataran Merdeka - LIVE!

Values change. Society changes. In order to retain consistency between the Constitution on one hand and Islamic goodwill on the other, it is better to re-interpret apostasy laws in light of today's context. Indeed enough damage has been done to Islam by the Lina Joy decision.