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 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 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 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 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 Elmasry appeared in a panel discussion on '' The Michael Coren Show '' to discuss 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 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 was not accepted by the CIC 's board
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