Last week, we highlighted in this forum Jonah Goldberg?s doubts about the accuracy of contending that extremists are hijacking the peaceful religion of Islam.

Goldberg cited the case of assassinated Pakistani governor Salman Taseer in making his argument. Now Taseer?s daughter shares similar concerns in the pages of Newsweek:

From 1986 to 2009, 479 Muslims, 340 Ahmadis, 119 Christians, 14 Hindus, and 10 others have been charged with blasphemy, according to the National Commission for Justice and Peace, an advocacy group set up by Pakistan?s Catholic bishops. No one convicted of blasphemy has ever been executed by the state, but many have been mowed down by Islamist vigilantes.

The biggest danger faced by Islam comes from those who claim to serve it. Its first victims are its own adherents. But our fight against these forces of darkness?forces that seek to snuff out the voices they disagree with?must begin with the strengthening of basic law and order. The extremists are a small minority, but they?re raucously vocal, well armed, and well funded. They operate by instilling fear in those they oppose. This intimidation works all too well.