Prominent national Canadian Muslim organizations and umbrella groups have signed an unprecedented statement praising Canada's collective response to the cartoon controversy, saying Canada has "made Canadian Muslims proud."

"Despite a few small occurrences, Canada's collective response to this controversy has allowed us to overcome this crisis and strengthen our democracy," says Dr. Tyseer Aboulnasr, a member of the Order of Ontario and spokesperson for the Muslim coalition. "Our community felt it was time for us to acknowledge to all of Canada how proud we are of our country."

The statement was signed by 21 national Muslim organizations and a number of umbrella groups from across the country representing an additional 175 organizations.

The complete statement can be read on the site of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN)