A group of prominent Islamic scholars today appealed to Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release the six reformasi activists when their two-year detention under the Internal Security Act expires i­n June.

In a letter to Abdullah titled 'Progressive Islam' will not be born behind bars , the 40 scholars, including those from abroad, deplored the "deterioration" of political rights in Malaysia.

They said the agenda of progressive and moderate Islam cannot be advanced in a climate of repression and excessive state control.