The Muslim Brotherhood's spiritual leader, Mohamed Badie, called on Egyptians to rally on Friday "for freedom and legitimacy" and to condemn what he described as the bloody military coup.
Badie described a call made by Egypt's top army commander for protest as a more serious offense than demolishing the holy Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque (Al-Masjid al-Haram) in Mecca, stone by stone.
Egypt's Army Chief and Defence Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called for a protest on Friday to mandate the army to confront violence and terrorism.
In a weekly message published on Thursday, Badie urged his followers not to resort to violence even when others initiate it.
He cited Quranic verses, saying, "Our motto in the face of the killers of worshipers, men, women and children is: If you extend your hand to kill me, I will not extend my hand to kill you; for I fear God, lord of the worlds. I would rather you bear my sin and your sin, and you become among the inmates of [hell]. Such is the reward for the evildoers.”
Pro-Mursi demonstrations have been held since Egypt’s army ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on July 3, following mass demonstrations where millions took to the streets.
“The Egyptian people will respond to you as they did to unjust rulers from before you”, Badie told Sisi, describing him as the only real ruler in the country and all other authorities as puppets.
