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Muslim leader 'must quit'
Canadian Islamic Congress chief says anti-Israeli remarks 'misunderstood'
Michael Friscolanti
National Post
TORONTO - Jewish and Muslim leaders are demanding the president of the Canadian Islamic Congress resign after failing to apologize for saying all adult Israelis are legitimate targets for suicide bombers.
Mohamed Elmasry, president of the influential Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC), issued a news release on the weekend insisting his remarks, made on a television program last week, were "regrettable and misunderstood," but he did not outright apologize.
He said he was simply relaying the views of most Palestinians, not his own beliefs. "I sincerely regret that my comments were misunderstood and, as a result, caused offence," said Dr. Elmasry, an Egyptian-born computer engineering professor at the University of Waterloo.
But Jewish groups and at least one fellow Muslim leader dismissed the statement as half-hearted and insincere. "I found it hilarious," said Tarek Fatah, co-founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress. "The honourable thing for Mr. Elmasry to do is to resign his position. But to put a spin on this and deny what he said is embarrassing for all Muslims."
During the Oct. 19 broadcast of The Michael Coren Show, an Ontario current affairs program, Dr. Elmasry said all adult Israeli civilians -- men or women -- are fair targets for Palestinian suicide bombers because they all must serve a mandatory military term.
"They are part of the Israeli army, even if they have civilian clothes," Dr. Elmasry said. "The same if they are women in the army ... anybody above 18 is a part of the Israeli popular army."
Mr. Coren then asked: "Anyone and everyone in Israel, irrespective of gender, over the age of 18 is a valid target?"
"Yes," he responded.
The remarks triggered outrage among both Jews and Muslims, who were disturbed such a prominent figure would condone the killing of civilians. Late Saturday, the CIC tried to clarify Dr. Elmasry's position, noting that the congress "believes that terrorism -- including that by Palestinians -- does not advance either cause."
"Dr. Elmasry, did not, does not, and will not condone the widely held Palestinian view that any form of armed resistance against civilians that includes suicide bombing constitutes a legitimate military operation against the Israeli occupation, and not a terrorist activity," the statement reads.
The news release said Dr. Elmasry was stating the views of Palestinians, not the position of the Canadian Islamic Congress, whose main goal is to promote the teachings and practices of Islam in Canada and abroad.
Still, Dr. Elmasry's critics found the statement difficult to believe, especially since he repeated his controversial stance in a newspaper interview over the weekend.
"The only thing that is 'regrettable' about the incident is the pathetic attempt now by the CIC to try and defend the words of Dr. Elmasry," said Frank Dimant, executive vice-president of B'nai Brith Canada, a Jewish advocacy group. "The use of the word 'regrettable' is shameful. He was clear in promoting hate and supporting terror."
Ed Morgan, president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, said he is surprised Dr. Elmasry is now suggesting that all Palestinians support terrorism.
"Frankly, the Canadian-Palestinian community spokespeople always strive not to say this," he said. "I think out of respect for the Palestinian community, he should not be putting these kinds of very distasteful words in their mouths."
Mr. Morgan, a law professor at the University of Toronto, also said he has received numerous phone calls from Jewish students at the University of Waterloo who are concerned about Dr. Elmasry's loaded remarks.
"There are students who don't like the fact that a professor has called for them to be killed on a nationality basis," said Mr. Morgan, who plans to discuss Dr. Elmasry's comments with Waterloo officials.
Said Mr. Dimant: "I would like to think that a university, even where freedom of speech is very valued, has boundaries where they will not allow a staff member to promote terrorism in this country."
A spokesman for the university could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Mr. Fatah, of the Muslim Canadian Congress, said the views expressed by Dr. Elmasry hardly represent those of mainstream Muslims in North America. He said Palestinians have the right to defend themselves against Israel's armed occupation, but that should not include targeting the general public.
"If a person is in a military uniform, he is a legitimate combatant," he said. "But if someone is at a pizza shop or on a bus, then he is not. It is reprehensible to justify the killing of someone you have never met, you have never understood, you have never engaged."
Dr. Elmasry did not return phone calls from the National Post yesterday, but Wahida Valiante, national vice-president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, said her colleague is "very, very disappointed" about the controversy his comments have spawned.
She said Dr. Elmasry is strongly committed to human rights and a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but that has been overshadowed by the media frenzy over his remarks.
"[That] has been compromised by people who have taken this and taken it to the level where it is now being discussed in the papers and everywhere else," she said.
She said CIC endorses all UN resolutions on terrorism, and adopted an "Anti-Terrorist Policy Statement" after 9/11 that does "not permit any form of terrorist activities, or support for such activities or groups involved in such activities."
"Islam does not condone violence against civilians, under any circumstances," she said. "Within the religious context, it is impossible for Elmasry or myself or anyone to condone acts of violence against innocent people."
Mr. Dimant said her assurances mean little, considering Dr. Elmasry has already condoned such violence.
"This is promotion of terrorism," he said. "It is shameful that the CIC has not removed him from his position of leadership and we suggest that they really rethink their attempt to fool the Canadian people."
? National Post 2004
http://www.canada.com/nanaimo/story.html?id=a1a5867d-4b62-4a55-b7b8-f92037031ab6
