More Columns By This Writer :: Family firm that conquered world   :: Parrish's anti-American remarks unacceptable

Another example of totally unacceptable behaviour by University of Waterloo Professor Mohamed Elmasry has come to light.

Last month, Professor Elmasry unleashed a controversy, and police plus university probes, after he said on the Michael Coren television show all Israelis over the age of 18 years are legitimate targets of Palestinian suicide bombers. Elmasry is a leader of an organization calling itself the Canadian Islamic Congress.

What's just come to light is that he has used the University of Waterloo's reputation to carry on his campaign.

On Jan. 19, 2000, a letter with Professor Elmasry's signature on University of Waterloo letterhead was sent to political science professor Aurel Braun of the University of Toronto. It concerned Professor Braun's appearance on a CBC television show where he criticized Saddam Hussein and his Iraqi regime for diverting the oil-for-food funds to buy armaments.

Braun's allegation was true.

Professor Braun was shocked by the letter he received from Elmasry on Waterloo letterhead.

"This was clearly an abuse of a university position," he said in a telephone interview last week. "I wish I'd gone after him at the time for this intimidation and attempt to censure me."

A copy of the letter was faxed by Braun to the National Post. It is signed by Elmasry and, to maximize its impact, copied to the CBC, the Chair of the International Relations Program at the UofT as well as Toronto's Vice-President Academic and Provost.

The contents of the letter are intimidating.

"On that program you were a guest and you made the statement: 'the money that generated from the sale of oil-for-food program has been diverted to buy armaments' by Iraq, and when the host of the program challenged you 'what is your proof?' you failed to mention any references," said the Waterloo letter signed by Elmasry. "I am interested to know if you indeed have some credible report to support your claim. I would appreciate it if you would email/fax me your references."

The letter ends: "If you, however, fail to produce any references, then your statement on a public forum such as CBC -- Canadian public/taxpayer supported broadcast, would be misleading and a serious matter. Awaiting your reply, Professor Mohamed Elmasry, Ph.D., FRSC, FCAE, FIEEE, Director - VLSI Research Group, Faculty Member - Middle East Studies."

There is no faculty of Middle East Studies at Waterloo and Elmasry is a Professor of engineering.

Professor Braun ignored the letter at the time and never heard from his university's officials who received copies.

"The letter was very official looking, but I did not dignify it with a reply. If I had been up for tenure this would have been really scarey because the letter was sent to the Chair and Provost," he said. "Frankly, the Provost, which is the second most powerful position in the university, should have called me and written him back immediately. He didn't. I don't know what his relationship was with the Provost. I never heard from the Provost. But I was told the chair of the department told him [Elmasry] to shove it."