The bigotry that this man faces from another faith is something we should be getting over, but sadly the root cause is seen in comments here - an atheist (another religious faith) wants him locked up as mentally defective. Religious hatred of ALL kinds must be stamped out.

Peter Cook, Bristol, UK

Surely the time as come to stop all this religious nonsense by treating them like any other mental disorder. These 'religions' are nothing more than dangerous fantasies that some people become addicted to and in many cases obsessed with. Ban all religions until the adherents learn to grow up!

Ed, London, UK

How ignorant can the police be. Apostates are killed. That's in the koran. The man's life is in danger.

Kate Rafferty, Santa Ynez, USA

I wish there were more Muslims like you, Shehryar. However you quote from the unabrogated Qur'an from Sura 2:256 which goes onto say reject evil and accept Allah; this sura is replaced in the equally valid Medina Qur'an with Sura 9, the Sword version, which this report proves is in practice today.

kate b, cheshire, uk

George,

Not being British you can be forgiven for misunderstanding what our "National Pride & culture" actually consists of.

British "Bravery" consists of tolerance, respect for the beliefs of others, and the willingness to fight for the rights of others, not just ourselves.

cheers

Luke, Exeter, UK

I see that Britain continues to lead in the all-important race to be the dhimmiest country in the West. In fact it has no near competitors, even France is less dhimmi than Britain. BTW, Mr. Hussein and his wife should sue the crap out of that "policeman."

MaryJ, SF , Calif.

Where the Crusaders barbaric? of course, but no more so than the moors who invades Spain in the 11th Century and overthrew a civilized and tolerant Muslim regime; or the Turks who invadedabout the same time and overran the Byzantine empire, leading the the First Crusade.

John Schuh, Lake Dallas, TX, USA

Are you english/british, for whom I have the greatest reverence for your bravery in the 2nd World War, deteriorating into a pile of goo? Where are your national pride, your pride in the great english culture? Can or will you not protect your own - for the sake of political correctness or sheer fear?

George Borchorst, Copenhagen, Denmark

islam has never been a peaceful religion and can never be they believe in killing others who do not believe in their god they should stop it.

adaf, dartford, kent

This is dereliction of duty of the part of the police. Unfortunately we see far too often how the police turn their backs on those in need of their protection. Hopefully we will eventually get a government willing to put an end to this PC mania that has permeated our institutions.

Lin, London, UK

It's amazing that people blame Religion as the source of nothing but woe. Islam is the culprit here not religion.

If I recall my history correctly the greatest source of death and destruction in all of human history has been Communism and German Fascism, both of which are Secular systems.

Mike, Austin, USA

"Man is tribal by nature. It is an inbuilt instinct as unanswerable to reason or debate as hunger...." What an aweful nonsense, Keith , Rayleigh. Why this persecution of apostates happens only at the hand of Muslims. If what you are saying is true there should not be any Muslim in Britain.

Showan Khurshid, London,

How quickly we forget. If it wasn't for that "barbaric history of Christianity" one of your readers refers to, we would likely already be living in Islamic societies. Prior to the Crusades, the Jihad had overran the Christian Near East, North Africa, and Iberia and was threatening Byzantium.

tommy, Seattle, United States

As a muslim, I am perfectly fine with people converting to other religions. The Quran clearly says that there is no compulsion in religion. If someone believes that they find solidarity in following Christianity, so be it. This guy is free to choose his path and should be protected from abuse.

Shehryar, Middlesex, UK

Another unenlighted, il-informed comment from one more apologetic of the "enlightenment" :

Religion, as ever, causing problems. Why exchange one harmful fantasy for another?

I get tired of these sweeping statements, so readily published, which publicly declare ignorance of the subject.

Nathan, Inverness, UK

It really isn't true to say that religion generally is the problem. In the UK we rarely hear of problems from Christian, Hindu Jewish, Sikh, or Buddhist communities.
No, The problem once again comes from one religion and a pathetic politically correct police force.

Clare, South Wales, UK

If you want to see wheredifferent faiths, tribes and cultures live together in peace, take a look at the good old USA. Walk down the street in New York and look around you. Review the the 9-11 street scenes- black, white, brown and yellow, carrying, consoling and helping one another. EPluribusunum!

Hugh Brennan, Princeton, NJ, USA

Converting is good business nowadays. It brings you publicity and publicity means paper exclusive paper interviews and so on. Believe is a heart inside issue.

Dr. Saeb, Turra,

Nissar Hussein lost all rights for British protection and justice by converting to Christianity, I am surprised he had not the foresight to realise this would happen.

He is a brave man indeed to join the underclass.

Elizabeth Philips, Halifax, UK

Des, Britain will be religious again.....and very soon. Not Christian, mind you, but very religious.

Laurence, Athens,

The issue of religious reciprocity has been aired on this very site. It is vital that this man be given the full protection of the law in the same way that any muslim in this country expects.

Bill, Yeovil, UK

More from the 'religion of peace'.....

Chris, WAlsall, UK

I think the phrase "stop being a crusader" is important. It reminds us of the barbaric history of Christianity in particular, and of the malign influence of religion in general. The state should be doing more to help all people of faith to discard their irrational and potentially harmful views.

Des, Edinburgh,

Watch the speed at which PC Plod moves when they phone up and threaten to burn down the police station!

Mark, Bedford,

Man is tribal by nature. It is an inbuilt instinct as unanswerable to reason or debate as hunger.This instinct sees any kind of conversion or integration as a threat to the tribe. Nowhere in the world do different cultures and tribes live together totally without strife and it is naive to expect it.

Keith , Rayleigh, England

It is time to ask British converts to Islam whether they support the sharia laws punishing apostates who renounce Islam or will they support the right of apostates to convert to any religion. It would be hypocritical to practise Islam in peace while former Muslims are being persecuted.

Carolyn, Surbiton,

Religion, as ever, causing problems. Why exchange one harmful fantasy for another?

Mike Homfray, Liverpool,

I don't think the police can be fully blamed for these type of cases, I mean who would have thought in 21st century Britain there are people still living in the Middle Ages, and the Near Eastern Middle Ages at that,

Sue R, London, England

The irony implicit in the idea that Muslims should be "Forced...to accept the principle of libertarianism" gave me a good chuckle

Thanks Graeme

Luke, Exeter, UK

cmon guys its all a conpiracy towards degrading islam and mulims ,,look for instance christian who is only supportive of a muslim is always killed or harassed and instantly blamed on muslim terrorist behind the killing,,any country on the positive side towards muslim is attacked and blamed very next

deepak, bangalore, india

Why is it that the alleged police response doesn't surprise me?

Chris D, Edinburgh, Scotland

Threats to the lives of young women ignored. Threats to people's lives ignored. Imprisonment for council tax non-payment. This shows the prioiities of modern Britain. Proof positive that the poilce aren't worth any pay rise.

Eddie Reader, birmingham, england

I predict he will be left unprotected and will eventually either be killed or forced to convert back to Islam as the police will be too afraid of upsetting the Muslim "community".

Roger, Norfolk,

It's odd how Muslims whinged when France passed the headscarf law, but Saudi Arabia and Iran execute apostates. It's time for Christians fought hypocrisy and forced Muslims to accept the principle of libertarianism: - they should allow others the same freedoms they expect to be extended to them.

Graeme Phillips, London, UK

Dreadful that this can happen. Minority faiths absolutely have to abide by the host culture's rules and customs. Burning down houses is assuredly not one of them.

And if indeed the constabulery's response was less than adequate, action must be taken to ensure that such does not recur.

Andrew, Montreal, Canada

"action against nations and communities that punish apostasy."
Which nations and communities would these be then ?
This is the result of Political Correctness, a fear of enforcing British Law and Article 18 of the UN Convention on Human Rights (Freedom of Belief) because it would upset the Moslems

Jaspal Singh Dhillon, Southall, UK

A threat is an assault. This man must be given the same protection by the law as muslims themselves...
In the face of adversay, he is brave and has put his new faith as priority, to the detriment of NO ONE. He must be allowed his right to live in peace and in safety, as each one of us should be.

Mid J., Dong Pu, , China