Is it permissible to acknowledge the right of Jews, Christians, and others to freedom of belief, proselytization, and the open practice of their religion in a multi-religious society, and even in a Muslim state, as some scholars assert, citing the Qur'an and Sunnah as evidence?

It is not entirely accurate to say that Islam permitted freedom of belief. Islam does not compel people to enter it by force, but it invites them to monotheism and the worship of Allah. However, it does not accept from anyone in an Islamic state to call to disbelief. Ibn Baz clarified that Islam does not approve of freedom of belief in its broad sense; rather, it commands sound belief, mandates it, and imposes it on people, and it does not allow a person to be free to choose whatever religions they wish. Ibn Uthaymeen mentioned that whoever permits a person to be free in belief and to believe whatever religions they wish is a disbeliever, because religion is a revelation from Allah and not merely ideas. In summary, whoever believes that it is permissible for anyone to embrace whatever religion they wish is a disbeliever, based on Allah's saying: "And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him" (Quran 3:85) and "Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam" (Quran 3:19). So, if by freedom of belief is meant not compelling a Jew or a Christian to enter Islam, then this is true. However, enabling a disbeliever to propagate their religion and spread it in Islamic lands, or deeming it permissible to follow any religion, this is false.