This is in response to Brian Yap's letter Judge not Noritta lest you be judged .

I agree with both Brian's and Hafiza Ahmad's letter earlier, expressing their personal views on Noritta's case. It is unfortunate that a woman at that age, not only left behind her loved ones, but also stories that have us all talking about.

Brian responded to Hafiza's letter by saying how others should not judge other people. I think that this is a lesson that everyone should inculcate as a principle. However, there are reasons for me supporting Hafiza's stand.

Judgements aside, an individual's actions affect the well-being of a society. And a society's actions will affect that of a nation.

I totally agree that everyone has his or her own prerogative as to how they want to lead their lives, who they are seeing, the lifestyle they choose, etc. But I cannot help but look at it from a cultural perspective.

We cannot run from the fact that Noritta was a Malay and a Muslim. There is always that cultural difference with us Muslims as we believe in Fardhu Ain and Fardhu Kifayah .

The latter is a social duty where there must be a group of Muslims - if not an entire mass - to fulfill moral obligations as failure to do so will result in the whole community being in a state of sin.

Thus, as much as we have our rights to our own way of life, we must realise that there are various segmentations even within a community. Noritta's case, is perhaps best viewed by those who understand and practise similar cultural and religious tenets.