MZH's presumption (in his letter An incidental flaw of judicial system) that I had in my letter Islamic state - Mahathir was right said that Islamic principles are against human rights and common sensibilities is incorrect.

All great religions that I know of, including Islam, preach justice and compassion. It is the human interpretation of these religions that are sometimes flawed. MZH suggested that himself when he mentioned that the Syariah Court decision in the M Moorthy case might not be right.

It was mentioned by MZH and others that things would have been better if the family of Moorthy had been told earlier of his conversion, that is before he went into a coma and died. I am not so sure of this. What if at that time - still wheelchair-bound and sick - he denied that he had converted? Or renounced Islam when pressed further?

MZH said there is no compulsion in Islam. I believe him. But he did not address the fact that Syariah Court actions in Malaysia so far are in contradiction to that principle.