Muslim Brotherhood Deputy Supreme Guide Khairat al-Shater has warned that different forces were trying to create a state of “sabotage” in Egypt ahead of a 15 December referendum on the draft constitution.
Shater said during a press conference for the Jurisprudence Commission for Rights and Reform Saturday that said forces were deliberately trying to create political instability in the country and tarnish the image of the Renaissance Project.
Shater added that many issues, especially economic issues, could not be reformed without an elected Parliament.
Shater's statement came after an earlier press conference in which Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie said that the group does not replace state institutions, and the Guidance Bureau does not rule Egypt in lieu of the presidency.
Badie said in a press conference held Saturday morning at the group’s Cairo headquarters, "We are not performing the role of state institutions, but we defend them against those who want to sabotage them, and we sacrifice ourselves and help the security services."
Badie’s statement comes in response to criticism of the group after its supporters marched to the presidential palace last Wednesday under the pretext of protecting it from the "saboteurs’" storming it. The group’s supporters clashed with anti-Brotherhood demonstrators, leading to several deaths.
"If we appoint ourselves to replace state institutions,” Badie added, “we would have demanded the removal of the Republican Guards.”
In response to the rumors that the Brotherhood Supreme Guide is ruling Egypt and directing President Mohamed Morsy in his decisions, Badie pointed to himself and asked, "Is this the man ruling Egypt? And his headquarters burned and stormed?
Badie called on all Egyptian political forces to renounce violence, pointing to recent stormings of Muslim Brotherhood and Freedom and Justice Party headquarters in a number of governorates.
Badie called the recent events “criminality, not opposition,” and called on political leaders disavow violence, adding that some of the current opposition forces have benefited from the support of the Muslim Brotherhood in the past.
“Be angry at Brotherhood, but without hurting the interests of the nation." Badie said, calling on citizens to return to “legitimacy and institutional work."
Badie further claimed that eight people were killed in the recent clashes in front of the presidential palace, and that all of them were from the Muslim Brotherhood.
He also alleged that 28 offices belonging to the group have been burned down throughout Egypt in the past several days, in addition to the Freedom and Justice newspaper’s headquarters.
Badie leveled harsh criticism at the media, saying they “promoted lies” and that the money they earned was “haram” and would hurt their families.
However, he also held up the Egypt 25 channel as a model of honesty. The channel is run by the Muslim Brotherhood.
