In an October 27th CIC media communiqué Dr. Elmasry is quoted as saying: "I sincerely apologize for the way I expressed myself last week on The Michael Coren Show and I offer my resignation. I also offer my apology for the distress I caused to my family, to the University of Waterloo, to the CIC Board, members and friends. I apologize for any public remarks I made which offended Canada's Muslim, Jewish, Palestinian, and Arab communities and Canadians at large."

He further stated that: "It has always been a core belief of mine that killing civilians -- any civilians, for any cause -- is an immoral act of the worst kind and I will never change in this conviction."

In response to Dr. Elmasry's decision, MCM President Salam Elmenyawi stated that "In the close to 30 years that Dr. Elmsary has tirelessly worked for the Muslim community in this country he has made many valuable contributions and spoken out on numerous social and political issues which are near and dear to the Muslim community and the Canadian population at large."

Some of those issues Dr. Elmasry has worked on, as outlined in the CICs' October 27th communiqué, include issues of social justice in Canada, the rights of senior citizens', the elimination of child poverty, the crisis of homelessness, right of access to free universal health care and education, and for the protection of basic human rights of all. In addition Dr. Elmasry has worked on numerous civil rights issues nationally and internationally and has been actively involved in anti-hate and anti-discrimination campaigns.

"As a result of his work," stated Elmenyawi, "Dr. Elmasry is a highly respected Muslim leader and three decades of work should not be forgotten in all the discussion surrounding his remarks on the Michael Coren show on October 19th."

"Furthermore," stated Elmenyawi, "due to his years of work Dr. Elmasry has solid credibility in the eyes of the vast majority of Canada's Muslim community and those who are speaking in the name of Canadian Muslims to the media and attacking Dr. Elmasry's person and character are the ones who in fact lack credibility in our community despite the media's attempt to make it appear that they do."

Elmenyawi also stated that he was critical of media coverage of this incident as it smacks of a vendetta against Dr. Elmasry due to his critical comments of the Canadian media's coverage of Islam and Muslims.

"It is almost as if the media commentators are wringing their hands with glee over this incident," stated Elmenyawi.