The decision of the Federal Court to dismiss Lina Joy's final appeal is a mockery of the Malaysian constitution and an insult to Malaysian citizens regardless race, ethnicity, and religion.

Lina Joy has been denied her right to choose how to exist in this world and this message is reaffirming rising religious intolerance and denying Malaysian citizens constitutional freedom on religious grounds.

Renouncing Islam is not a choice for Malaysian Muslims. However, Muslims who insist this woman, who has been a Christian since she was 26 years old, to remain a Muslim, should also ask themselves why there is a verse in the Holy Quran that states, 'There is no compulsion in religion" (Al Baqarah 2: 256).

Let those who truly believe and reflect rethink the state of Islam and the survival of 1,400 years of tradition.Let not the survival of this faith be relegated to those who exploit it for their own political gains.

Let it also be known to the world that Malaysia, which prides itself as a model of a 'moderate and progressive' Muslim country is in practice discriminating against the rights and liberties of its Muslim citizens.