Egypt's Salafist Nour Party described Wednesday deposed president Mohamed Morsi's first public statement since his 3 July ouster as "unrealistic."
Nour Party spokesman Sherif Taha told Al-Ahram Arabic news website that Morsi's statement, which lawyer Mohamed El-Damaty read at a press conference Wednesday, reflects "the absence of a realistic vision of the [current] situation."
Taha said that the content was not new and represents the same stance of the Muslim Brotherhood, the group from which Morsi hails and which has been calling for his reinstatement since his ouster.
Morsi remained defiant in his statement, saying the army staged an illegitimate "coup" when it deposed him 3 July amid mass nationwide protests against his rule.
"What happened is a crime and treason," Morsi said. "Treason to God and his prophet, and a breach of the oath sworn by Defence Minister [Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi] who pushed the army into politics ... It is also treason to the nation because it has divided the people."
Morsi added: "Egypt will not regain its power until the coup is overturned and those responsible for the bloodshed are held accountable."
Security forces have staged a crackdown on Morsi supporters, arresting hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood members and affiliates, mainly on charges of inciting violence. Pro-Morsi demonstrations often escalated into clashes with opponents or security forces. In August, police forcibly dispersed two large Cairo pro-Morsi sit-ins leaving hundreds dead.
Morsi is currently in jail pending trial, where he and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood members are accused of inciting to kill protesters during clashes at the Ittihadeya presidential palace in December 2012.
He is also currently being investigated on escaping from prison during the January 2011 revolution.
The Salafist Nour Party chose to be neutral during the 30 June protests that were calling for Morsi's removal from power. After his ouster, Nour said it accepted the interim roadmap announced by the army.
The party, currently Egypt's second largest Islamic bloc after the Brotherhood, also sits on the 50-Member Committee tasked with amending the constitution. Tensions have arisen between the party and the committee on articles dealing with the Islamic identity of the state and the sources of legislation.
The committee is set to make public its final draft 3 December, ahead of a national referendum on the charter.
