Every time there is a terrorist attack involving Muslims, one hears a cry from politicians who don’t know what they’re talking about. They say that Islam is a peaceful religion. If it is, why must they keep telling us?

Here’s some more evidence that tells a different story: Hamas members of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza have approved a new bill “to implement Koranic punishments,” including hand amputation, crucifixion, corporal punishment and execution. Drinking, owning or producing wine is to be punished by 40 lashes, while drinking in public adds three months’ imprisonment.

Several laws are directed at Hamas’ Palestinian rivals, including a law intended to inhibit non-Hamas negotiators by sentencing to death anyone who was “appointed to negotiate with a foreign government on a Palestinian issue and negotiated against Palestinians’ interest.”

Death is a big deal with these people. They seem focused on it more than life, if you can call the conditions their religious leaders keep them in “life.” This will eventually make the Islamic Web sites and I’ll be denounced as an islamophobe. But I am only saying what they say and do.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.