Saying Israelis are 'legitimate targets' not a hate crime
Police: Elmasry talk show case

March 15, 2005

Police have decided not to charge a controversial Muslim leader under Canada's hate-crime laws for suggesting on a television talk show last fall that all adult Israelis are "legitimate targets" for Palestinian terrorists.

Investigators with Halton Region police said that while the comments by Dr. Mohamed Elmasry "were described by many as [a] hate crime," they did not meet the legal definition.

"Although the comments would be considered distasteful to many, in this context they do not constitute a criminal offence," police said in a news release. "The comments were made during a free-flowing discussion between subject-matter experts who were encouraged to express their opinions openly on a topic of significant public interest."

Dr. Elmasry, a University of Waterloo professor and president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, drew widespread public condemnation last October for telling a television panel discussion that all Israelis over the age of 18 could be targets for attacks by Palestinians because they are all members of the country's army.

Halton police, who sought legal advice on the case from Ontario's Attorney- General, were handed the file because Dr. Elmasry made the comments on the Michael Coren Show, which is broadcast from studios located in Burlington, west of Toronto.

Canadian Jewish groups objected angrily to his remarks and fellow Muslims distanced themselves from Dr. Elmasry.

He issued an apology soon after the public outcry began over the Oct. 19 show and said later he was trying to express the view of many Palestinians, not his own opinion.

Dr. Elmasry also offered to resign as president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, but the group's board of directors refused to accept it.

The group called Dr. Elmasry's words "one unintentional mistake" and the Egyptian-born professor has said his comments were misunderstood.

He also came under investigation by the University of Waterloo, where he is a professor of computer engineering.

Last November, the university's dean of science decided the professor's statements were "entirely unacceptable," but decided against formal disciplinary action.

In a letter addressed to Dr. George Dixon, the dean, Dr. Elmasry wrote that "The statements were an aberration. It has always been a core belief of mine that killing civilians -- any civilians for any cause, is an immoral act."

Dr. Elmasry could not be reached for comment yesterday.

SOURCE: National Post