Several religious edicts have been issued in support of the Freedom and Justice Party's Mohamed Morsy, who is running against Ahmed Shafiq in the presidential runoff set for 16 and 17 June.
On Wednesday, religious leaders in Alexandria endorsed the Muslim Brotherhood candidate and forbade voting for Shafiq, according to the London-based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
Shafiq’s campaign responded by stating, “We will not offend anyone. We respect everyone. Our response will be seen in the ballot boxes.”
Yasser al-Borhamy, vice president of the Salafi Dawah, confirmed his group's support of Morsy during a public meeting held at a Borg al-Arab area mosque on Wednesday.
“Earlier, we supported Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh [the Islamist candidate who ranked fourth during the first round]; however, we don’t have any choice other than endorsing Morsy. Supporting him means supporting the Islamic project,” he said.
Sherif al-Masry, member of a preachers' association in Alexandria, forbade voting for Shafiq, emphasizing that the candidate was prime minister during the Battle of the Camel, when armed men on horses and camels attacked Tahrir Square protesters in February 2011. Masry also accused him of involvement in the smuggling of former regime figures' assets abroad.
Marwa al-Khateeb, Shafiq’s campaign media coordinator in Alexandria, said “campaign members will not respond to those edicts against Shafiq.”
She stressed that the campaign would not go on the offensive against Morsy and will respect the candidate.
Shafiq's campaign offices in Alexandria were briefly closed following attacks on his headquarters in Cairo Monday in response to the announcement of first-round voting results.
A source from the campaign said that the Alexandria offices resumed work on Wednesday.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
