As I have shown in my earlier writing from a constitutional perspective the guarantee of freedom of religion, is provided to all Malaysians. Unlike some of your readers, the Federal Constitution of Malaysia does not discriminate between Muslims and non-Muslims in this respect.

The burden of proof does not lie in Freedom Fighter's favour. Unless people like him back their claims up with hard facts then they will continue to fool only themselves.

On the ongoing injustices being perpetrated against Ayah Pin's followers it is absolutely ridiculous that the authorities are now claiming to be able to destroy the structures at Kampung Batu 13 Besut over technicalities. Given the stay order granted by the Terengganu High Court, I am given the distinct impression that the agencies involved in the recent demolition see themselves as above the law. Going by reports, the legality of the demolition is to be contested in a court of law.

These vicious acts of persecution must be recognised for what they are and the requisite action must be taken without fear or favour. Malaysia's reputation is at stake as the world is doing more than quietly observing. Human Rights Watch has already protested and urged the Malaysian government to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

It is tragic and sadly ironic that apart from the homes, the only structure reportedly left standing in the compound is the grave of Mohamad Ya. In the eyes of the religious establishment, he was Muslim enough to be tried under Shariah law but in death he was not Muslim enough to be buried in a Muslim cemetery.

On Aug 10, the 54-year-old Kamariah Ali, widow of the late Mohamad Ya, is to be charged for not wanting to be tried under Shariah law. What is absolutely ludicrous is that this charge comes seven years after she renounced Islam by way of a statutory declaration in August 1998. Has this poor woman not suffered enough?

In their zeal our authorities and the editors of those newspapers that see it as their God-given duty to de-humanise these people seem to have lost sight of the fact that Ayah Pin's followers are people who, like the rest of us, only want a better future for themselves and their children.

We must question why the authorities have been allowed to go to such extraordinary lengths to persecute a tiny, peace-loving community that minds its own business. After such trauma, it is absurd to expect any of these people to willingly adopt the state-sanctioned Islam Hadhari.

Perhaps this persecution is meant to serve as a stark warning for others that our religious authorities choose to label 'deviants'? If it is indeed the latter then who, pray tell, is next?

Amnesty International defines a prisoner of conscience as 'someone imprisoned solely for the peaceful expression of their beliefs'. If any of these people are jailed then truly they will be 'prisoners of conscience'.