I refer to your report Islamic NGOs: Don't touch on sensitive issues . I am sickened by the vague, hypocritical and one-sided criticisms being leveled at Article 11 by certain Islamic NGOs.

Mohd Hafiz Nordin (secretary-general of the Penang chapter of the Malaysian Ulama Association), for example, has claimed that Article 11 raised sensitive issues in a 'rude' manner. On what basis does he make such a claim? Has he bothered to attend any of the three forums which have been held? If he has, then instead of remaining vague he should be specific. Mohd Hafiz, please justify exactly how Article 11 or any of the speakers featured were rude.

Mohd Hafiz is also quoted as warning that the nation's harmony would be threatened if people questioned each other's faiths. Yet three of the five speakers scheduled to speak in Penang were Muslims!

Your report identifies Mohd Hafiz as one of the key organisers of the Penang protest. Could he kindly explain whether the objective of the protest was to display discontent or was it instead an attempt to disrupt and end the forum?

To Teras Pengupayaan Melayu (Teras) president Azmi Abdul Hamid, I ask exactly which Islamic principles have been condemned by Article 11 or its speakers?

Abim claims that Article 11 must stop its programme to avoid similar demonstrations in future. However, I don't recall anyone taking issue with the actual protesting. When reading many of the reactions, it becomes clear that what upset most people is when some protesters attempted to surge into the hotel on several occasions.

Let us recall that the forum ended abruptly due to fears by the police that the situation could get violent. Surely such violent behaviour in response to a peaceful civilised discussion is un-Islamic.

Yet where is the criticism against such un-Islamic behaviour? Their silence is deafening. Might it be that the same NGOs, who so readily to criticise Article 11, are also content to let the spectre of violence and chaos silence those with legitimate concerns? Since when was mob rule an Islamic principle?

If Mohd Hafiz Nordin is concerned about the spread of 'anti-Islam sentiments' then why is he organising protests which are based on misinformation and misrepresentation? If these Islamic individuals and organisations are so concerned with the image of Islam then I challenge all of them to speak out against the violent behaviour exhibited by some of the protesters. Anything less is to condone violence.

It's time Mohd Hafiz Nordin, Azmi Abdul Hamid and Abim drop the hypocrisy and face the harsh truth - violent and irrational displays of hostility conducted by holier-than-thou Muslims do far more to sully the reputation of Islam and fellow Muslims than all the forums put together.