I refer to Mohd Elfie Nieshaem Juferi's letter Have zero tolerance for apostasy .

In the letter, the author says, 'True, Islam does espouses the freedom of religion...' but then went on to contradict himself by saying, 'Freedom of religion, however, is not to be confused with freedom to simply leave the religion and put the Muslim 'ummah' in jeopardy'.

The very phrase 'freedom of religion' means complete freedom on the choice of your religion. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in Article 18:

'Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.'

Apostasy is a very contentious issue amongst Muslims and there is strong disagreement amongst different quarters of the 'ummah' itself. The author claims that liberal Muslims 'attempt to insult' the Quran's '... laws at every juncture' by preferring to '... abandon the Quran and Sunnah injunction' regarding this issue, implying that liberal Muslims ignore the Quran on this and other issues.

Yet just about every article or report I have read opposing laws banning apostasy by liberal Muslims are filled with quotations from the Quran and the Sunnah in liberal amounts. Take for example, this article on the issue.

The author considers apostasy '... detrimental to the Islamic values' that would '... put the Muslim 'ummah' in jeopardy'. Is the author trying to say that the only way to maintain his 'deen' is to ban people from leaving it?