"Because of their behaviour, I loathe Islam even more now," Revathi Mansoosai told reporters . "They say it's a school, but it's actually a prison."

After Lina Joy comes Revathi. How many more of these type of cases do Malaysians have to witness before the realisation hits home that something is saliently misguided with the understanding and implementation of Islamic law in this country? The blatant disregard for the right of an individual to profess their religion of choice is increasingly embarrassing and dangerous in a country that prides itself as the leader of 'moderate Muslims'.

Revathi has declared: 'I am a Hindu and I choose to remain this way'. Yet her declaration falls on deaf ears and the blinded eyes of Islamic officials. Although Revathi was born to Muslim parents, she was brought up as a Hindu by her grandmother and married to a Hindu in accordance with Hindu rites.

Yet, she was sent to an Islamic rehabilitation centre in Ulu Yam to be convinced to 'return to Islam' what precisely is she returning to here? A faith that she was never a part of, never understood, never practiced and appreciated? She was separated from her child and her husband for six months, forced to adapt to a religion that she does not want or intend to profess.

Have the Islamic officials and their department decided that they are God? When will Malaysian Islamic officials begin to exercise their 'akal' and truly reflect on a religion that requires its adherents to think?

This also brings me to the question of the existence of an 'Islamic rehabilitation centre' in a country that has been insistent on promoting Islam Hadhari. I find the idea of any rehabilitation centre in relation to religion appalling, particularly because faith is a personal choice.

Faith should not be legislated, and certainly not in the form of a rehabilitation centre. Shame on you Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, for in one case after another, your Islam Hadhari has failed to manifest itself in its so-called civilising mission.

Where is Islam Hadhari in the idea of rehabilitation centres and in the injustice of Revathi's case? Will we be seeing more and more 'Revathis' in the future? How many other Revathi's have there been that we have not heard of?

Based on her own words above, Revathi's only lesson from her incarceration is that 'I loathe Islam even more now' - is this the road Malaysian Muslims want to embark on? Is this the totalitarian Islam that Malaysian Muslims want to embrace in the 21st century?

Revathi has made her choice and decision regarding her religion crystal clear. It is time for deaf and blinded religious officials to honour her choice and refrain from making a mockery out of Islam and Malaysian Muslims.