Egypt's Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya issued a statement on Sunday afternoon stressing its commitment to peaceful protests in support of the president's democratic legitimacy, as its members join the hundreds of thousands protesting outside the Rabaa Al-Adawiya Mosque in Cairo's Nasr city.
The group added that it had not ordered any of its members to carry weapons.
The statement went on to accuse the media of anti-Islamist bias, asserting that Egypt's mainstream media ignored crimes committed by the opposition and violations by police against bearded men.
"The continuous attack on bearded men on public transport might compel some to carry tools for self defence," the statement added.
Millions of Egyptians took to the streets on Sunday to protest against President Mohamed Morsi after his first year in office.
While several governorates have seen violent clashes in recent weeks, many are fearful of potential violence between the two rival camps.
