Letter: Tolerating the intolerant will hurt US

The U.S. prides itself on offering freedom to all and not discriminating against any religion. But Islam should not be treated like other major religions. Many of its beliefs are contrary to the laws and cultures of the countries in which its adherents reside.

A 2013 Pew poll shows that more than 70 percent of world Muslims think Sharia should be the law of the land. The various versions of Sharia law are contrary to our Constitution. Extreme Sharia includes such provisions as death to those who insult Allah or the Prophet and to apostates, infidels, homosexuals and adulterers.

They include provisions for subjugating women, including wife-beating and genital mutilation. In “moderate” Jordan, for example, 41 percent of its residents believe Sharia should apply to all residents and 47 percent favor stoning for adulterers. In 10 Muslim countries, national law prescribes death for a homosexual act.

Though there are only about 500,000 suicide bombers and fighters among the 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide, many others support them. Their supporters include those who voted for Hamas to lead Gaza and for the Muslim Brotherhood, which supports a Caliphate, to rule Egypt. A recent poll in the U.K. asked Muslim citizens if they knew specifics of a terrorist plot, would they report it to authorities. Two-thirds answered “no.”

Our president plans to admit 85,000 Muslim “refugees.” What happens to a tolerant country that becomes so tolerant that it tolerates groups with a large number of intolerant members?

This story was originally published June 22, 2016 at 3:22 PM with the headline "Letter: Tolerating the intolerant will hurt US."