While some Muslim Americans are joining the ranks to fight for the Islamic State, a newly discovered 2012 poll found that the majority of U.S. Muslims have a fundamental problem with the freedom of speech.

The data, collected in October 2012 and analyzed by the public-opinion research firm of Wenzel Strategies, found that 58 percent of Muslims believe criticism of Islam or the prophet Muhammad should be punished as a crime, even under the death penalty, the conservative website WND reported.

It appears these faithful have a strict interpretation of the Quran, which states:

“The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement” –Quran 5:33

 Pollster Fritz Wenzel was taken aback by the results.

“Almost half of those Muslims surveyed – an astonishing 46 percent – said they believe those Americans who offer criticism or parodies of Islam should face criminal charges,” Wenzel said in the survey analysis.

The poll also found that 40 percent of Muslims believe they should be judged by Shariah law, not the U.S. Constitution, and that 32 percent of Muslims would prefer that Shariah law govern America.

Political leaders should remember such results as they craft solutions for problems in the Muslim community, including the Islamic State.

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Hannah Bleau

Steered right by what she calls the "radical leftist rhetoric" in college, Hannah is a contributor for multiple media outlets and passionate about American politics.

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