After the Egyptian military announced the end of Mohamed Morsi’s rule flanked by both Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II and Grand Mufti Ahmed al-Tayeb, Islamists began predicting a purge of their kind in the new democratic Egypt.
The Muslim Brotherhood was not represented among the opposition leaders joining the leaders of Egypt’s two largest faiths and the powerful military figures.
“It is wonderful to see the Egyptian people taking back their stolen revolution in a peaceful way,” the Coptic pope said in a statement Tuesday.
The grand mufti, not considered conservative enough by the Muslim Brotherhood, said the “people have surprised and inspired the world through its elegant expression of their peaceful demands.”
Tayeb warned that “division will lead the country to a catastrophe, and it must end,” according to Al-Arabiya.
Khaled Daoud, spokesman of the main opposition National Salvation Front, said the leader of the coalition, Mohamed ElBaradei, sat down with the pope, the mufti and military leaders to plan the road map forward.
The Muslim Brotherhood was banned under Hosni Mubarak’s rule and began implementing heavy handed religious laws after coming to power. Copts were increasingly targeted by violence, one of the grievances that led to the largest protest in human history on Sunday.
Morsi reportedly called the pope before the Tamarod (“Rebel”) event to ask that he direct Copts not to participate in the protest. U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson, possibly the most unpopular person at Tamarod, reportedly tried to convince the pope of the same.
Tawadros II declined, maintaining Egypt’s Christians should exercise free speech.
“The speech of the president last night and before the 48 hours deadline did not achieve the goals of the people, which resulted that the armed forces, based on its own national and patriotic duty, to consult with several leaders, civic and religious and youth, which without excluding anyone,” Gen. Abdel Fatah Said Al-Sisi said in the military’s statement.
The general said their working group arrived at its road map to build an “Egyptian society, strong and stable, that will not exclude any one of its sons.”
All islamist Morsi propaganda TV channels are suspended.
— Mohannad Sabry (@mmsabry) July 3, 2013
BREAKING: Interior minister has just ordered shut down of all religion satellite channels. #Egypt
— Alexander Page (@AlexanderPageSY) July 3, 2013
All Islamic channels have been closed while the Coptic Pope talks about the glorious military coup against the elected president. #Egypt
— Turk4Syria (@Turk4Syria) July 3, 2013
I remember a day people would go misr to gain knowledge n couldnt grow a beard or would be tortured. .we goin back there
— Freddy Patriot (@FhmMK3) July 3, 2013
“Islamophobia” is actually stemming from inside the Arab communities, not the western! LilAsaf
— Ahmad D. (@hommsy) July 3, 2013
What happened in #Egypt has wider implications than simply the removal of #Morsi. I expect crackdown on MB as a whole will be harsh.
— Maher Arar (@ArarMaher) July 3, 2013
Hashtag #WeAreWithMorsi trending in Turkey big time, but not in Egypt @AJStream #AJStream
— Rami (@Ramisms) July 3, 2013
UPDATE:
Initial reports say combat units are tracking down heads of Islamic Jamaa, AbdelMaged, Zomor, and Hegazy.
— Mohannad Sabry (@mmsabry) July 3, 2013
I hope Salafis will reach power, then we also topple them after 1 year and get these as well out of our system :D
— The Big Pharaoh (@TheBigPharaoh) July 4, 2013
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