The question of freedom to change religion, regarded as a “universal right”, brings particular problems for members of the religion that someone leaves; for them it is often regarded as apostasy. This article grew out of a briefing paper written by Chris Hewer to help Christians understand apostasy from a Muslim perspective. It was taken up by Professor Khalid Alavi who, in the late 80s, was a visiting professor at the Centre for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations in Birmingham but later became the Director of the Da’wah Academy at the International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan. The article was published in Dawah Highlights, Islamabad: Da’wah Academy, 2004.