The Canadian Islamic Congress ( CIC ) was a Canadian Muslim non-profit organization.
116-507: The group was founded by Mohamed Elmasry of the University of Waterloo, a world expert in microchip design , with a 1994 meeting of Muslim leaders from across the country and it was formally incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1998. In March 2006, the CIC issued a communique in which it condemned the government of Stephen Harper for "blindly following the lead of Washington and of
232-489: A "controlled and calm" response consisting of writing letters to the editor and the Danish government. He also urged Muslims to engage in outreach by inviting non-Muslims into their homes and have open houses in mosques. He discouraged attendance at demonstrations saying, During demonstrations, you don't have control of who will do what. Opposing sides who are anti-Muslim or supporters of freedom of expression could show up and
348-668: A $ 1.1 billion transaction to acquire the chain from Canwest on July 13, 2010, forming the Postmedia Network . The company's shares were listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2011. On October 28, 2011, the Post announced its first ever yearly profit. In 2016, Chatham Asset Management acquired a 66 per cent stake in the Postmedia Network, resulting in the reduction in their staff, including
464-580: A 1935 picture of two Jews bearing Nazi -ordered yellow badges . Later on the same day, experts began coming forward to deny the accuracy of the Post story. The story proved to be false, but not before it had been picked up by a variety of other news media and generated comment from world leaders. Comments on the story by the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper caused Iran to summon Canada's ambassador to Tehran, Gordon E. Venner , for an explanation. On May 24, 2006,
580-537: A Canadian Jewish Organization, criticized the contest, stating that it is a "blatant propagandistic initiative that distorts reality, delegitimizing the existence of the Jewish state in any shape or form. The national essay contest announced by these groups encouraging youth to write on "Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine", is based on the false assumption that the Jewish presence in the Jewish People's ancestral homeland
696-604: A Canadian Muslim", Elmasry accused the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) and Bnai Brith Canada of "putting pressure on my university to fire me" and that his words were "mis-represented to the public exactly as the CJC wished". He also stated that "a Toronto Jewish businessman had threatened to withdraw his financial support for a chair of Jewish studies." He also criticized the 2004 bombings of hotels in Taba , Egypt on
812-562: A brochure warning that "some misguided Muslims may try to recruit Canadian Muslims, especially our young people, and use them to commit crimes against our country, or abroad" and urged the community to reject "extremist imported ideologies". The CIC urged a moderate response to Danish cartoons of the Islamic prophet Muhammad published in 2005. Anger at the depictions resulted in violent rallies and attacks on Danish institutions in Europe and
928-713: A cause of publicly deriding their religion, badmouthing the Prophet, ridiculing the Qur'an and mounting uninformed crusades to smear their Islamic Law, the Shariah." In the aftermath, the Muslim Canadian Congress demanded that the CIC apologize for "false" accusations that those who criticize sharia are "smearing Islam, ridiculing the Koran [and] badmouthing Muhammad." The MCC stated that CIC President Elmasry accused
1044-442: A complex world and religions play a large role, young people need to be given a chance to understand them." Since 1998, the CIC has been active monitoring media coverage for anti-Muslim or anti-Islam sentiment and has issued reports highlighting its findings. It has opposed the use of phrases such as "Islamic guerrillas", "Islamic insurgency" and "Muslim militants" saying that terms like "militant" or "terrorist" should be used without
1160-534: A fanatic" and accusing him and his lieutenants of "endangering the well-being, even the lives of many Muslims who are living in the West" and whose "religious rhetoric will probably feed into anti-Islam sentiments that already existed before Sept. 11 and have been on the rise since Sept. 11". Of bin Laden and his associated, Elmasry says "They have no religious authority." Elmasry has written that Hezbollah "is actually
1276-438: A hate-based education system for Jewish children that teaches them to despise anyone and anything Palestinian, Arab, or Muslim, in that order." National Post Provincial Provincial The National Post is a Canadian English-language broadsheet newspaper and the flagship publication of Postmedia Network . It is published Mondays through Saturdays, with Monday released as a digital e-edition only. The newspaper
SECTION 10
#17327660674141392-585: A legitimate Lebanese Shi'a Islam political party organized around a variety of roles and functions, just as are many other political parties. And, not unlike some other parties, it developed a national military resistance wing, created solely in response to Israel's occupation of Southern Lebanon." During the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Canadian Islamic Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation urged
1508-485: A letter to Valiante, that she had "badly misinterpreted the concept of 'the chosen people', which in fact refers to the relationship between Jews and God and that 'It certainly does not connote "racial superiority ' ". Turkienicz said, "The article was guilty of deploying "a purportedly anti-racist message in the cause of its own prejudice." After the Canadian Jewish Congress complained, Valiente sent
1624-504: A more realistic evaluation of these scriptures would recognize that they contain the work of many authors with different views produced over many centuries, with later works often more sophisticated. Amos, who declares, "Let justice flow down like the waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream," can hardly be characterized as bloodthirsty. Finally, Elmasry's take on the Old Testament is un-Islamic. The Quran identifies some of
1740-614: A native people living in the path of their plans". Elmasry has said "The pro-Israel lobby continually strive to discredit anyone who dares to speak the truth about Israeli atrocities against native Palestinians." He has also written that: "[...]Zionism, as a political ideology, has succeeded only in building an apartheid state for Jews; an elaborate ghetto kept separate from its Palestinian neighbors by concentrated military power, an aesthetically monstrous 'security wall,' economic dependency on Western support, compulsory military conscription and training (including how to kill with weapons), and
1856-475: A new and ugly cold war and he clearly intends to transform it into a hot one, sooner rather than later; the media and political hype will translate into real aggression, bringing death, misery and destruction to yet another Middle East state. The evil character of human greed and power-lust is about to raise its ugly specter once again and subjugate a weaker nation that refuses to toe the American line. Regarding
1972-576: A perceived increase in Islamophobia since the September 11, 2001 attacks . It has accused governments and school boards of failing to address harassment and discrimination against Muslims and Arabs and has called for the province of Ontario to launch a public inquiry. At a press conference at Queen's Park , CIC official Wahida C. Valiante said that "Islamophobia does exist and it's growing." and that "[s]ince 9/11, there has been no effort on behalf of
2088-796: A potential American attack on Iran, Elmasry has written that "It is all part of a long-planned Bush and Co. agenda and that is why you won't find a single good word in the American mainstream media about Iran—none, nil, zero." In addition, Elmasry added that "the doctrine of colonization: looting other people's wealth and enslaving them, while killing outright those who resist[...] seems to be the dominant doctrine in Washington today" and that "Americans are busy preparing to attack yet another country, spreading more looting, more death, more suffering, and more destruction next door in Iran." Elmasry has stated his opposition to Osama bin Laden calling him "a lunatic,
2204-502: A religious association "since no religion teaches or endorses terrorism, militancy or extremism. Although, the rise of major terrorist attacks by groups who claim they are waging a holy war on the west confuses this issue as the reasons behind their attacks comes from the base of their faith. and" The Congress has singled out the National Post as being "consistently is No. 1" as an anti-Islam media outlet. A number of writers for
2320-688: A retreat from multiculturalism. The proposal, which was also supported by Jewish and some Christian groups, proved unpopular with the electorate and is cited as a key reason for the Conservative party's defeat in the election. During the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Canadian Islamic Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation urged the Canadian government to take Hezbollah and Hamas off its list of designated terrorist organizations. CIC president Elmasry wrote that
2436-518: A scapegoat. In a letter to the Toronto Star , he denied having said what he was reported to have said. Regarding the October 2004 controversy involving Elmasry, Tarek Fatah , a founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress , had stated that "...to believe all Israelis are targets is the height of hypocrisy." Fatah also stated that: "In refusing to step aside, Elmasry and the CIC have demonstrated
SECTION 20
#17327660674142552-638: A shouting match can turn violent. Instead, we've encouraged a more proactive approach to plead with the government to recognize anti-Islam the way it does anti-Semitism. Commenting in June 2006 on the decision of United Church , in Toronto, Ontario , Canada, to reissue a motion to divest in Israeli companies, Elmasry stated: The move of the Toronto's United Church is a moral one. But is it true to its Holy Book;
2668-649: A shouting match can turn violent. Instead, we've encouraged a more proactive approach to plead with the government to recognize anti-Islam the way it does anti-Semitism." The CIC called for Canada's military mission in Afghanistan to end in 2009 and for Canada to urge the United Nations to sponsor a peace conference involving all parties. The CIC has opposed a proposed law by the federal Conservative government that would require all voters to show their faces before being allowed to cast ballots. The proposal
2784-675: A third of the National Post's editorial staff. The Trovimova case: In 2024, the National Post published two articles in which it advocated for the Russian propaganda film “Russians at War”. The first article by columnist Chris Selley introduced the claim that this film showed the human face of the Russians and was therefore banned. This statement was later used by right-wing media "Die Weltwoche" and other to which Trofimova gave interviews to defend her film after it had been banned from
2900-633: A trend to which The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star , Canada's other two papers with inter-regional distribution, have all resorted. Print editions were removed from all Atlantic Canadian newsstands except in Halifax as of 2007. Focussing further on its online publishing, in 2008, the paper suspended weekday editions and home delivery in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The reorientation towards digital continued into its next decade. Politically,
3016-527: Is a classic threat to label anyone as an apostate and then marginalize them,[...] And this is what Mr. Elmasry has done by listing me as the top anti-Islam Muslim." Fatah stated that he views the label from Elmasry as tantamount to a death sentence. However, some Islamic scholars disagreed with Fatah's characterization of Elmasry's comments. Leonard Librande, professor of religion at Carleton University , told CTV News that "There's nothing particularly Islamic in this... There are differences of opinion frequently in
3132-704: Is a founding Director of the VLSI (Microchip) Research Group. As a spokesperson for Muslim causes through the Canadian Islamic Congress , he has been a regular contributor to The Globe and Mail . His remarks, especially those concerning the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , have drawn significant attention in the Canadian media. He has accused some of his opponents of being anti-Islam . Elmasry has authored and co-authored more than 500 research papers and 16 books on integrated circuit design and design automation, as well as having several patents to his credit. He has edited
3248-520: Is a response to Elections Canada issuing a directive to poll clerks to permit women wearing veils for religious reasons to vote. The CIC states that the proposed Tory law is unnecessary and will only promote discrimination against Muslims and provide "political mileage among Islamophobes." In 2007, the CIC voiced its opposition to proposals to renew provisions of the 2001 Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act allowing investigative hearings and preventive arrests which had lapsed in early 2006. Speaking on behalf of
3364-542: Is alarming and ironic." Elmasry has asserted that the war against terror is actually being used to oppress Muslims as a whole saying that: Right wing Canadian politicians and their parties consider the "war against terror" to mean the same as "war against Muslims." On the Bush Administration's intentions in the Middle East, in particular towards Iran , he has argued that: Mr. Bush has started
3480-604: Is distributed in the provinces of Ontario , Quebec , Alberta and British Columbia . Weekend editions of the newspaper are also distributed in Manitoba and Saskatchewan . The newspaper was founded in 1998 by Conrad Black in an attempt to compete with The Globe and Mail . In 2001, CanWest completed its acquisition of the National Post . In 2006, the newspaper ceased distribution in Atlantic Canada and
3596-472: Is especially sad that Mohamed Elmasry and his allies have chosen the holy month of Ramadan to launch their broadside on progressive Muslims." In June 2006, Elmasry, named four public figures – Tarek Fatah among them – of taking every opportunity to bad-mouth Islam. Specifically, Elmasry stated that Fatah is "well known in Canada for smearing Islam and bashing Muslims". Fatah blasted Elmasry, stating that "[t]his
Canadian Islamic Congress - Misplaced Pages Continue
3712-496: Is illegal" and that "This sham of a contest joins together Canadian-Arab groups, which purport to reflect mainstream positions, but which clearly hold extremist notions that deny Israel's right to exist." The Canadian Islamic Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) criticized B'nai B'rith Canada, stating that "This call to shutdown academic research and free speech is typical of B’nai Brith's contempt for
3828-417: Is totally false. The media never questioned the completeness or the accuracy of the radio show transcript that was given to them. Instead, they totally and completely relied on the heavily selective one provided to them, which was one-sided and referred only to my remarks, but not to those by Aptowitzer. Elmasry also criticized Canadian Jewish groups over this incident. In an article entitled "When Jews Target
3944-470: Is totally false. The media never questioned the completeness or the accuracy of the radio show transcript that was given to them. Instead, they totally and completely relied on the heavily selective one provided to them, which was one-sided and referred only to my remarks, but not to those by Aptowitzer. In an article written in February 2003, CIC Vice President Wahida C. Valiante wrote: Unfortunately,
4060-541: The Arbitration Act . The proposal was opposed by the Muslim Canadian Congress , the Canadian Council of Muslim Women and non-Muslim women's groups. The provincial government ended up rejecting the proposal and scrapping existing religious arbitration tribunals for Jews and Christians in the process. The CIC raised controversy when CIC President Elmasry wrote that Canadian Muslims " [should] not to make
4176-600: The Canadian territories . Postmedia assumed ownership of the newspaper in 2010, after the CEO of the National Post ' s, Paul Godfrey , assembled an ownership group to acquire CanWest's chain of newspapers. Conrad Black built the National Post around the Financial Post , a financial newspaper in Toronto which Hollinger Inc. purchased from Sun Media in 1997. Originally slated for an October 5, 1998 launch date,
4292-543: The Jewish News Syndicate which it describes as "a mouthpiece for the Israeli military". In a 2021 academic study on the presentation of the subject of climate change in 17 mainstream media outlets in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the National Post came out as the worst in terms of its misrepresentation of the scientific consensus on the impact of anthropogenic climate change. The National Post
4408-523: The National Post added value to other papers in the Canwest chain. In 2010, an ownership group was assembled by National Post CEO Paul Godfrey in 2010 to bid for the chain of newspapers being sold by the financially troubled Canwest (the company's broadcasting assets were sold separately to Shaw Communications ). Godfrey secured financial backing from U.S. private-equity firm Golden Tree Asset Management as well as other investors. The group completed
4524-424: The National Post was perceived to be middle-of-the-pack for bias among national news outlets (perceived biased by 48 per cent of Canadians overall). A 2010 Ipsos survey commissioned by CBC found that 38% of respondents believed the Post leaned to the right or far right. The advocacy group Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East has accused the Post of pro-Israel bias for publishing articles from
4640-511: The Post editorial board included Ezra Levant , Neil Seeman , Jonathan Kay , Conservative Member of Parliament John Williamson and the author/historian Alexander Rose. The Post 's magazine-style graphic and layout design has won awards. The original design of the Post was created by Lucie Lacava, a design consultant based in Montreal. The Post now bears the motto "World's Best-Designed Newspaper" on its front page. The Post
4756-634: The Post endorsed the Conservative Party of Canada in the 2004 election when Fraser was editor. The Conservatives narrowly lost that election to the Liberals. After the election, the Post surprised many of its conservative readers by shifting its support to the victorious Liberal government of prime minister Paul Martin , and was highly critical of the Conservatives and their leader, Stephen Harper . The paper switched camps again in
Canadian Islamic Congress - Misplaced Pages Continue
4872-652: The Post has retained a conservative editorial stance, although the Asper family has long been a strong supporter of the Liberal Party of Canada . Izzy Asper was once leader of the Liberal Party in his home province of Manitoba . The Aspers had controversially fired the publisher of the Ottawa Citizen , Russell Mills, for calling for the resignation of Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien . However,
4988-633: The University of Ottawa in 1970 and 1974. He has worked in the area of digital integrated microchip design for over four decades. From 1965 to 1968, Elmasry worked for Cairo University and from 1972 to 1974 for Bell-Northern Research in Ottawa, Ontario , Canada. Since 1974, he has been with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo in Ontario where he
5104-466: The B'nai Brith Institute of International Affairs. While never referring to Aptowitzer's statements, the media used news stories, editorials, op-ed pieces, columns, photos, front-page coverage, cartoons, and radio and television commentaries to paint a negative picture of CIC and myself which seriously distorts and falsifies the truth. It was widely reported, for example, that "Elmasry said all Israelis over 18 were legitimate targets for suicide bombers." This
5220-575: The Canadian Government should "review its 2002 decision to place Hezbollah and Hamas on its list of banned alleged terrorist organizations" because doing so "is an unconscionable act of hypocrisy and a mockery of justice" since Canada has not placed Israel on the same list. Elmasry also stated that the decision to place Hezbollah and Hamas on this list was "dictated by special interest groups with agendas that are contrary to peace with justice." The CIC has been outspoken in its criticism of
5336-521: The Canadian Islamic Congress, compared Mark Steyn to James Keegstra , an Alberta high school teacher who taught and tested his students on how Jews "created the Holocaust to gain sympathy. They basically talk about the same theories. This is not a civil dialogue." She said that, in Germany, long before the Holocaust, "it was the words that set the stage for what happened later on.... We may end up with
5452-524: The Canadian Muslim community and their families to enormously dangerous consequences. ... you [Elmasry] have defamed their good reputation and exposed them to ridicule and hatred within their own communities in Canada. Some MCC members also expressed concern they will be arrested if they travel to certain Islamic countries. Elmasry responded by stating that Islam has no punishment for denouncing
5568-427: The Canadian government to take Hezbollah and Hamas off its list of designated terrorist organizations. Elmasry wrote that the Canadian government should "review its 2002 decision to place Hezbollah and Hamas on its list of banned alleged terrorist organizations" because doing so "is an unconscionable act of hypocrisy and a mockery of justice" since Canada has not placed Israel on the same list. Elmasry also stated that
5684-480: The Friday Bulletin, CIC VP Wahida C. Valiante wrote that Daniel Pipes , a Conservative American political commentator, "is a follower of Hitler ", "uses the tactics of Hitler" and "wants to ethnically cleanse America of its Muslim presence." Pipes denied he ever made these statements and subsequently filed a notice of libel. The CIC subsequently apologized "without reservation" and "retract[ed the] remarks in
5800-555: The Institute for Canadian Values (ICV) which was hosted by Canada Christian College . The advertisement argued against the teaching of LGBTQ -related sex education topics in the Ontario school curriculum, and was criticized for alleged discrimination against transsexual , transgender , intersex , and two-spirited people. Following the controversy, the National Post apologized for the advertisement on September 30 and withdrew
5916-413: The Jewish idea of being "chosen" not only institutionalized racism, but also set a terrible precedent for human history in general, where racial superiority claims became the norm, the divisive standard by which all others, those not like us were to be judged and treated. Rachael Turkienicz, a professor of Jewish studies and education and an officer of Canadian Jewish Congress 's Ontario region, wrote, in
SECTION 50
#17327660674146032-482: The Khalid Bin Al-Walid Mosque that urged followers not to wish anyone a "Merry Christmas" asserting that this was tantamount to congratulating someone for murder and adultery. "It is a ridiculous statement and doesn't follow Islamic teaching. Whoever says this is saying it out of ignorance of his or her own religion", said Elmasry to the National Post and argued that extending Christmas greetings
6148-652: The Liberal establishment . When the Post launched, its editorial stance was conservative . It advocated a "unite-the-right" movement to create a viable alternative to the Liberal government of Jean Chrétien , and supported the Canadian Alliance . The Post 's op-ed page has included dissenting columns by ideological liberals such as Linda McQuaig , as well as conservatives including Mark Steyn and Diane Francis , and David Frum . Original members of
6264-464: The Muslim community by non-Muslims. It has also worked with mosques across the country to organize "open houses" each fall where non-Muslim neighbours are invited into mosques. It has also lobbied provincial education ministries to make a high school course on world religions compulsory. Explaining the initiative, CIC vice-president Valiante said "We don't want schools to preach our religion, but we live in
6380-496: The Muslim world. Elmasry urged Canadian Muslims to have a "controlled and calm" response consisting of writing letters to the editor and the Danish government. He also urged Muslims to engage in outreach by inviting non-Muslims into their homes and have open houses in mosques. He discouraged attendance at demonstrations saying that "[d]uring demonstrations, you don't have control of who will do what. Opposing sides who are anti-Muslim or supporters of freedom of expression could show up and
6496-400: The National Post have subsequently criticized the CIC over accusations that it is anti-Islam. Alexander Rose , wrote that "judging by its [CIC's] support for the [2001] Durban Conference , during which hook-nosed Jews were equated with apartheid and genocide, the CIC doesn't seem to have problems with some kinds of truly inflammatory racist language" and that the CIC's "fetish for censorship in
6612-775: The New Testament as much as Israel's campaign of death, destruction and misery against the Palestinians under its occupation is true to its Holy Book; the Old Testament? [...] It seems that many political leaders in the Christian West are not living the teaching of their Holy Book while Israel is living its own. Elmasry supported this view by citing a 1953 book by French pacifist Jean Lasserre , La Guerre et L'Evangile . Drawing on Lasserre's view that by and large, "the Old Testament ignores that respect for human life, that unconditional love, that non-violence, which [is]
6728-460: The October 2004 controversy] was the declaration that Israel's cruelty could be explained by the fact that the Old Testament is full of justification of bloody deeds by the ancient Hebrews. The inescapable corollary is that all Jews are cruel. Of course, his remarks have several flaws. Even if, for the moment, we grant the characterization of the Old Testament, it does not follow that all who claim to follow it see it that way and act accordingly. Second,
6844-651: The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) stated that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the complaint based on a gap in the legislation (the relevant portions of Ontario Human Rights Code only address discrimination via signs or symbols, not printed material). Despite not having jurisdiction, the Commission published a statement condemning the articles published by Maclean's as "xenophobic", "destructive", "Islamophobic" and "promoting prejudice". The Commission indicated that more discussion on
6960-402: The Ontario Human Rights Commission against Maclean's Magazine accusing the magazine of publishing 18 articles between January 2005 and July 2007 that they considered Islamophobic in nature including a column by Mark Steyn titled "The Future of Islam". According to the CIC complaint, Maclean's is "flagrantly Islamophobic" and "subjects Canadian Muslims to hatred and contempt." In April, 2008
7076-490: The Ontario chairman of the B'nai Brith Institute of International Affairs. While never referring to Aptowitzer's statements, the media used news stories, editorials, op-ed pieces, columns, photos, front-page coverage, cartoons, and radio and television commentaries to paint a negative picture of CIC and myself which seriously distorts and falsifies the truth. It was widely reported, for example, that "Elmasry said all Israelis over 18 were legitimate targets for suicide bombers." This
SECTION 60
#17327660674147192-726: The Ontario government, including the Ministry of Education, to have a comprehensive policy to address the growing isolation and marginalization of Muslim and Arab youth." In 2006, CIC Vice-President Wahida C. Valiante criticized "pro-Israeli Zionists... promote fear of Islam and Muslims through propaganda, and by playing manipulative mind- games on unsuspecting, decent mainstream Canadian and Americans." She also wrote that "the Zionist zealots (neo-conservative Likud Party supporters who yoke Israel's interests to those of America) and rightwing evangelical "millennial" or end-time Christians, both raise
7308-402: The Palestinians as a scapegoat. In a letter to the Toronto Star , he denied having said what he was reported to have said. These remarks prompted harshly-worded responses from representatives of the Canadian Jewish Congress and several prominent Canadian Muslims. Elmasry later apologized for his remarks calling them his "biggest mistake" in 30 years of public life and offered his resignation which
7424-489: The Shariah". The Muslim Canadian Congress demanded that the CIC apologize for "false" accusations that those who criticize sharia are "smearing Islam, ridiculing the Koran [and] badmouthing Muhammad". The MCC stated that Elmasry accused the group of blasphemy, a crime that carries the death sentence in several Islamic countries. The MCC wrote, Your [Elmasry's] false and utterly irresponsible accusations of blasphemy have exposed these active, dynamic and prominent members of
7540-449: The Son of God to any professional misconduct, beginning with the local Jewish doctor". He argued that the modern world should draw lessons from the past and work to halt the spread of anti-Muslim sentiment lest it establish the same groundwork for anti-Muslim violence the way that centuries of anti-Semitism laid the groundwork for violence against Jews. In 2002, Elmasry denounced an email from
7656-485: The West. "Today, Canadian Muslims are collectively judged as guilty by association for every crime committed by Muslim individuals, organizations and states, no matter how obviously atypical, abnormal or extremist they are. They are labelled Islamists, fundamentalists, Jihadists, etc." wrote Elmasry in a letter to the National Post analogizing the current situation to the history of anti-Semitism where "European Jews were found guilty-by-association of many crimes, from killing
7772-417: The Zurich film festival. In the second article by Chris Knight, “Russian-Canadian filmmaker battles attempts to suppress controversial film as Ukraine launches probe”, the idea was taken further, now claiming a Ukrainian campaign that was demonstrably a wider international protest. The article contained strong anti-Ukrainian bias and claimed an almost purely Ukrainian protest against the film, whereas in reality
7888-461: The authoritarian and dictatorial nature of their structure.[...] They purport to speak for Canada's 600,000 Muslims, but are not accountable or answerable to them.[...] We demand he [Elmasry] not[...] masquerade as leader of the community." Regarding Elmasry's statements, Fatah wrote that "Elmasry accused his Muslim opponents of being traitors to their faith—an allegation that is read as a charge of apostasy, with all its ugly consequences" and that "It
8004-669: The basic principles of academic institutions. These tactics of intimidation are becoming an all too common refrain of pro- Israel organizations, and are simply designed to stem the growing public awareness of Israel's apartheid policies" and that "Israel was founded upon the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. Between 1947 and 1948, nearly 800,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes and lands and over 500 Palestinian villages and neighborhoods were destroyed, and their inhabitants prevented from ever returning to their homeland." The CIC has established "Canadian Islam Awareness Week" held each October in an effort to improve understanding of
8120-415: The broadcast, and after Elmasry's apology and proffered resignation, when a press release by the Canadian Arab Federation highlighted them. Following the CAF press release, Aptowitzer retracted his comments and resigned his position with the B'nai Brith. Toronto Star city editor John Ferri told the Toronto Star' s ombud , Don Sellar, "we all had egg on our faces...[i]t was embarrassing for every paper in
8236-414: The broadcast, and after Elmasry's apology and proffered resignation, when a press release by the Canadian Arab Federation highlighted them. Following the CAF press release, Aptowitzer retracted his comments and resigned his position with the B'nai B'rith. Toronto Star city editor John Ferri told the Toronto Star' s ombud , Don Sellar, "we all had egg on our faces... it was embarrassing for every paper in
8352-467: The city not to get the whole story from the outset." In a letter to the Toronto Star following Sellar's column, Elmasary complained about the affair: Canadian news media - including the Star - launched a relentless and unfair attack against the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) and me while covering up for weeks the outrageous statements made on the same show by Adam Aptowitzer, then the Ontario chairman of
8468-478: The city not to get the whole story from the outset." In a letter to the Toronto Star following Sellar's column, Elmasary complained about the affair: Canadian news media – including the Star ;– launched a relentless and unfair attack against the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) and me while covering up for weeks the outrageous statements made on the same show by Adam Aptowitzer, then
8584-492: The column." The CIC also sent funds to cover Pipes' legal expenses and made a donation in his name to a Canadian charity. Pipes stated that the CIC's apology establishes that, in Canada, "Islamist groups do not have impunity to fabricate lies about their opponents." In December 2007, the CIC launched complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission , British Columbia Human Rights Commission and
8700-465: The community. It doesn't mean somebody is going to kill you." However, Fatah has argued that "in the Muslim world[...] allegations of apostasy are used to silence critics and human rights workers" and that "Some interpretations of Sharia call for apostates to be killed. Such views have forced many Muslims to flee their countries of birth and take refuge in tolerant Western nations such as Canada. To now find ourselves harassed in Canada by some Muslims here
8816-435: The conference, Elmasry said "We object to any special courts that deal specifically with terror activities, because at the end of the day it will compromise the civil liberties of Canadians." The Canadian Islamic Congress supported recommendations by Marion Boyd that the government of Ontario permit sharia tribunals to which Muslims could voluntarily submit civil disputes and whose findings would then have legal weight under
8932-467: The debut of the paper was delayed until October 27 because of financial complications that stemmed from Black's acquisition of the Financial Post , which was retained as the name of the new newspaper's business section. Outside Toronto, the Post was built on the printing and distribution infrastructure of Hollinger's national newspaper chain, formerly called Southam Newspapers , that included
9048-417: The decision to place Hezbollah and Hamas on this list was "dictated by special interest groups with agendas that are contrary to peace with justice". Elmasry has been outspoken in opposition to Islamophobia stating that "Today's Islamophobia and yesterday's anti-Semitism are starkly similar" and expressing fear that at the parallels between historic anti-Semitism in Europe and modern anti-Muslim sentiment in
9164-538: The edition distributed to the rest of Canada, and is printed at the Toronto Star Press Centre in Vaughan . On September 27, 2007, the Post unveiled a major redesign of its appearance. Guided by Gayle Grin, the Post's managing editor of design and graphics, the redesign features a standardization in the size of typeface and the number of typefaces used, cleaner font for charts and graphs, and
9280-430: The editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Doug Kelly , published an apology for the story on page 2, admitting that it was false and the National Post had not exercised enough caution or checked enough sources. From 1998 to 2014, the now defunct Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) had been actively monitoring media coverage for anti-Muslim or anti-Islam sentiment and had issued reports highlighting its findings. It had opposed
9396-736: The entire Southam newspaper chain, and the remaining 50 percent in 2001. CanWest Global also owned the Global Television Network . Izzy Asper died in October 2003, and his sons Leonard and David Asper assumed control of CanWest, the latter serving as chairman of the Post . Editor-in-chief Matthew Fraser departed in 2005 after the arrival of a new publisher, Les Pyette – the paper's seventh publisher in seven years. Fraser's deputy editor, Doug Kelly succeeded him as editor. Pyette departed seven months after his arrival, replaced by Gordon Fisher . The Post limited print distribution in Atlantic Canada in 2006, part of
9512-528: The far right." In an article written in the National Post , Ezra Levant , the publisher of the now-defunct Western Standard accused Elmasry of hostility towards Jews. Levant cited the Canadian Association of Journalists meeting in Halifax in May 2005 in which he sat on a panel with Elmasry. During the meeting, Levant claims Elmasry engaged in "a lengthy rant against the 'zhoos' who control
9628-630: The film was widely criticized by the international press and others. The National Post ' s main office is at 365 Bloor Street East in Toronto, Ontario . It was formerly located at 1450 Don Mills Road in the Don Mills neighbourhood of Toronto, which was vacated in 2012. The newspaper is published at Postmedia's Islington Printing Plant in Toronto's Rexdale neighbourhood, along with the Toronto Sun , London Free Press and various Postmedia and Metroland-owned weekly newspapers. The newspaper
9744-737: The following books for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers : Digital MOS Integrated Circuits (1981); Digital VLSI Systems (1985), Digital MOS Integrated Circuits II (1991) and Analysis and Design of BiCMOS Integrated Circuits (1993). Asked by Michael Coren in an interview on October 19, 2004 if "...everyone in Israel, irrespective of gender, over the age of 18 is a valid [military] target?", CIC President Mohamed Elmasry responded, "Yes, I would say." Elmasry later apologized for his remarks, calling them his "biggest mistake" in 30 years of public life and offered his resignation, which
9860-615: The general climate of the New Testament." Previously, he had stated that "very few people would sanely suggest that the Torah [which is part of the Old Testament] sanctions violence. The reason of course is that these verses and others much like them are subject to various interpretation and contextual assumptions." An article in the Arab American News criticized Elmasry, stating that: His next gaffe [the first being
9976-412: The grounds that some of the victims there were not Israelis. These remarks prompted harshly-worded responses from representatives of the Canadian Jewish Congress and several prominent Canadian Muslims. At first, Elmasry defended his remarks by insisting that he was merely sharing the standard Palestinian point of view. This led to further charges from his critics, who accused him of using the Palestinians as
10092-666: The group of blasphemy, a crime that carries the death sentence in several Islamic countries, leading some MCC members to fear they will be arrested if they travel certain Islamic countries.." Arif Raza, MCC's lawyer wrote that "Your [Elmasry's] false and utterly irresponsible accusations of blasphemy have exposed these active, dynamic and prominent members of the Canadian Muslim community and their families to enormously dangerous consequences" and that "you [Elmasry] have defamed their good reputation and exposed them to ridicule and hatred within their own communities in Canada." Elmasry responded by stating that Islam has no punishment for denouncing
10208-670: The influential pro-Israel Jewish lobby in both countries." The CIC called Canada's withdrawal of all aid and support to the Gaza Strip "a resounding slap in the face to Canadian values... It makes a mockery of our traditional stand as a nation concerned with peace and justice." The CIC also stated that in refusing to recognize the Hamas government elected in the Palestinian territories, "Prime Minister Harper and his government are saying loudly and clearly that Canada no longer cares about
10324-559: The interest of "social harmony", as the CIC puts it, reeks of the very authoritarianism oppressing Muslims in Egypt, Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia." In addition, Rose stated that "By editing out bad language, it seems, the CIC believes that correct thoughts will result, even at the necessary expense of reporting the truth." Robert Fulford wrote that the CIC "justifies its existence mainly by complaining about acts of prejudice that haven't happened" and that "it's ridiculous to suggest that we avoid
10440-587: The media, the 'zhoos' who are 'on top' of the world and keep the Muslims on 'the bottom', and about how my own comments were suspect because I, too, was a 'zhoo.'" In response to accusations of anti-Semitism, Elmasry has argued that his organization the CIC "was the first non-Jewish Canadian NGO to denounce anti-Semitic incidents committed against several Montreal Jewish institutions". Elmasry has referred to Israel as " Israel and apartheid " and has praised Israeli activist Uri Davis because he has "worked to expose
10556-406: The move of the nameplate banner from the top to the left side of Page 1 as well as each section's front page. In 2009, the paper announced that as a temporary cost-cutting measure, it would not print a Monday edition from July to September 2009. On October 29, 2009, Canwest Global announced that due to a lack of funding, the National Post might close down as of October 30, 2009, subject to moving
10672-414: The newspapers Ottawa Citizen , Montreal Gazette , Edmonton Journal , Calgary Herald , and Vancouver Sun . The Post became Black's national flagship title, and Ken Whyte was appointed editor. Beyond his political vision, Black attempted to compete directly with Kenneth Thomson 's media empire led in Canada by The Globe and Mail , which Black and many others perceived as the platform of
10788-602: The organization a letter acknowledging that her interpretation of the term "chosen people" was "inconsistent with its meaning in the scriptures of the Old Testament." Mohamed Elmasry Mohamed Elmasry ( Arabic : محمد المصري ) (born December 24, 1943) is a Canadian engineering professor, imam , and Muslim community leader. He was born in Cairo , Egypt and received his Bachelor of Science in 1965 from Cairo University . He continued his studies in Canada earning masters and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from
10904-476: The paper to a new holding company. Late on October 29, 2009, Ontario Superior Court Justice Sarah Pepall ruled in Canwest's favour and allowed the paper to move into a holding company. Investment bankers hired by Canwest received no offers when they tried to sell the National Post earlier that year. Without a buyer closing the paper was studied, but the costs were greater than gains from liquidating assets. The lawyer for Canwest, in arguing to Justice Pepall, said
11020-468: The patriarchs in the Jewish scriptures as prophets, and it speaks respectfully of Jews and Christians as "people of the book". Bnai Brith Canada sharply criticized Elmasry, stating in a press release that Elmasry's "thesis that the Old Testament is the root cause of all hatred and violence in the world" is an "attack on the core of Judaism". In an article written in June 2007, Elmasry criticised Canadian Jewish intellectuals for, in his opinion, moving to
11136-772: The plight of Palestine and Palestinians ... This is beyond hypocrisy; it is a shameful devaluation of Canada's international reputation for fair-minded, ethical and constructive diplomacy." In January 2008, the Canadian Islamic Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation issued a media communique which stated "the Apartheid regime of the Jewish state escalated its genocidal crimes against the indigenous people of Palestine" and that "Palestinians continue to endure death, deprivation and destruction under more than 40 years of brutal Israeli occupation that has become an insidious and unremitting genocide." The communique concluded by stating that "The world can no longer afford to stand by and watch from
11252-412: The proposal and scrapping existing religious arbitration tribunals for Jews and Christians in the process. Regarding the opposition of moderate Muslims to the introduction of Sharia tribunals in Canada, Elmasry wrote that Canadian Muslims should not "make a cause of publicly deriding their religion, badmouthing the Prophet, ridiculing the Qur'an and mounting uninformed crusades to smear their Islamic Law,
11368-472: The real truth behind Israel's so-called 'democracy'". Elmasry has also stated Uri Davis work makes it clear "to any thinking person that Israel and apartheid and Apartheid South Africa are remarkably similar". Elmarsy has also called for Britain to apologize to the Palestinians for its role in the creation of Israel and for its use "of military violence, political stratagems and economic influence to inflict generations of injustice, destruction, misery and death on
11484-412: The religion, its holy book , or Muhammad , and he dismissed as "nonsense" the notion that his words could be construed as a death sentence. Elmasry urged a moderate response to Danish cartoons of the Islamic prophet Muhammad published in 2005. Anger at the depictions resulted in violent rallies and attacks on Danish institutions in Europe and the Muslim world. Elmasry urged Canadian Muslims to have
11600-466: The religion, its holy book or the Prophet Mohammed, and he dismissed as "nonsense" the notion that his words could be construed as a death sentence. The Congress expressed support for Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leader John Tory 's proposal during the 2007 Ontario provincial election campaign to publicly fund faith-based schools arguing that rejecting the proposal would signify
11716-520: The right of the political spectrum. Elmasry wrote that "social justice once had staunch friends among Canadian Jews", citing in particular David Lewis , but argued that today "many Canadian Jewish intellectuals are assaulting Canada's policies regarding multiculturalism, immigration, and what they consider federal 'giving in' to natives' land claims. They are no longer speaking out against the deterioration of civil liberties in this country" and that "their political agenda has moved closer and closer to that of
11832-475: The runup to the 2006 election (in which the Conservatives won a minority government). Like its competitor The Globe and Mail , the Post publishes a separate edition in Toronto , Ontario, Canada's largest city and the fourth largest English-language media centre in North America after New York City , Los Angeles and Chicago . The Toronto edition includes additional local content not published in
11948-447: The same fate, and that is at the heart of why [the complainants] wanted to take this on." The organization has warned Muslim parents to monitor the on-line habits of teenagers and discourage membership in foreign political organizations or preoccupation with religious rituals. It has also cautioned mosques to be on the alert against infiltration of the congregation by "foreign Muslim groups who may have hidden agendas." It has distributed
12064-476: The sidelines as an entire people slowly bleeds to death." In 2008 the Canadian Islamic Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) launched an essay contest that "invites Canadian high school and university students (ages 17 through 27) to write an essay on the theme "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" and is part of activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of Al Nakba - the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their homeland in 1947-48." Bnai Brith Canada,
12180-419: The spectre of "Islamic terrorism" as a force that threatens free people everywhere. They know that fear destroys reason, leaving the individual's conscience in the hands of those who instill the fear." She also wrote that "Similarly, Fascism and Zionism achieved their objectives through fear." On October 19, 2004 CIC President Mohamed Elmasry appeared in a panel discussion on The Michael Coren Show to discuss
12296-451: The subject of religion when crimes are committed in the name of that religion by men and women considered part of it." while Jonathan Kay wrote that "the folks at the Canadian Islamic Congress purport to be the arbiters of what can and can't be said in this country" and that CIC President Elmasry is "the country's self-appointed judge of all that is hateful." In the April 29, 2005 edition of
12412-501: The topic of "What is a terrorist?". During an exchange with the show's host, he stated that anyone in Israel over the age of 18 was a justifiable target of Palestinian attacks. He also criticized the recent bombing of hotels in Taba , Egypt on the grounds that some of the victims there were not Israelis. At first, Elmasry defended his remarks by insisting that he was merely sharing the standard Palestinian point of view. This led to further charges from his critics, who accused him of using
12528-470: The topic of Islamophobia in the media was warranted. The British Columbia Human Rights Commission heard the complaint in June 2008. The complaint was later dismissed. The Federal Human Rights Commission also dismissed the complaint. At the Niagara-on-the-Lake conference of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies in June 2008, Wahida C. Valiante, national vice-president of
12644-427: The use of phrases such as "Islamic guerrillas," "Islamic insurgency" and "Muslim militants" saying that terms like "militant" or "terrorist" should be used without a religious association "since no religion teaches or endorses terrorism, militancy or extremism." The Congress had singled out the National Post , saying the paper "consistently is No. 1" as an anti-Islam media outlet. A 2017 survey of Canadians found that
12760-575: The well-being of their home country, which is Canada". In 2005, the Canadian Islamic Congress supported recommendations by Marion Boyd that the government of Ontario permit sharia tribunals to which Muslims could voluntarily submit civil disputes and whose findings would then have legal weight under the Arbitration Act . The proposal was opposed by the Muslim Canadian Congress , the Canadian Council of Muslim Women , and non-Muslim women's groups. The provincial government ended up rejecting
12876-413: Was found to represent scientific consensus only 70.83% of the time—noting the significant contribution of anthropogenic climate change—while 9.17% of the time it presented anthropogenic climate change and natural climatic variance as equally relevant, and 20% of the time presented anthropogenic climate change as a negligible phenomena. On September 24, 2011, the newspaper ran an advertisement paid for by
12992-507: Was not accepted by the CIC's board. The Elmasry affair led to criticisms that the media focussed entirely on the comments of the CIC president while neglecting controversial comments made on the same program by a B'nai Brith official, Adam Aptowitzer, who stated that "When Israel uses terror... to destroy a home and convince people... to be terrified of what the possible consequences are, I'd say that's an acceptable use to terrify somebody." The remarks only received attention several weeks after
13108-507: Was not accepted by the CIC's board. The Elmasry affair led to criticisms that the media focused entirely on the comments of the CIC president while neglecting controversial comments made on the same program by a B'nai B'rith official, Adam Aptowitzer, who stated that "When Israel uses terror ... to destroy a home and convince people ... to be terrified of what the possible consequences are, I'd say that's an acceptable use to terrify somebody." The remarks only received attention several weeks after
13224-596: Was previously printed at the Toronto Star Press Centre in Vaughan, Ontario , until the Toronto Star closed the site. The following is a list of past and present columnists for the National Post . On May 19, 2006, the newspaper ran two pieces alleging that the Iranian parliament had passed a law requiring religious minorities to wear special identifying badges. One piece was a front-page news item titled "Iran Eyes Badges For Jews" accompanied by
13340-407: Was the polite and neighbourly thing to do. He also said that Islam allows followers to marry Christians or Jews and that his own family is multi-faith. "My kids have uncles and aunts who are Christian and we wish them Happy Christmas and they also wish us Happy Eid." Elmasry says he and the CIC support "smart integration where Muslims can practise their religion but can also be involved in advancing
13456-416: Was unable to maintain momentum in the market without continuing to operate with annual budgetary deficits. At the same time, Conrad Black was becoming preoccupied by his debt-heavy media empire, Hollinger International . Black divested his Canadian media holdings, and sold the Post to CanWest Global Communications Corp , controlled by Israel "Izzy" Asper , in two stages – 50 percent in 2000, along with
#413586