Megan, "Canadian Muslims give mixed reviews on moratorium; Debate urged on Islamic penal code Proposal would halt death penalty Proposal would halt stoning, death penalty Debate urged on Islamic penal code", Toronto Star, April 1, 2005. The provincial government ended up rejecting 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, 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,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 the religion, its holy book, or Muhammad, and he dismissed as "nonsense" the notion that his words could be construed as a death sentence. Danish Muhammed cartoons 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 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, Claim that Old Testament teaches violence 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; 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