Sufis organise march in solidarity with Copts

The Union of Sufis, Prophet Kin Gathering and the Egyptian House party have announced a rally in support of Egyptian Copts next Saturday. The march was organised following recent violent clashes in central Cairo between Muslims and Christians, which left two dead on Sunday night. Sufi groups will start protesting at Abbasiya field then walk to the headquarters of the Macarios cathedral, where they will call for the dismissal of Prime Minister Hisham Kandil and hold President Mohammed Morsi accountable for ongoing sectarian strife. The Azmiya Sufi order and the Egyptian Association have also denounced recent events at the cathedral, warning that further violence could lead to a civil war in Egypt. The group also accuse the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis of conspiring to destabilise Egyptian society, saying the events were the latest of a series of crimes committed by them – placing the blame for the burning of South Cairo Court and the attempt to burn the High Court to destroy documents on the two groups. They also charge the government with plotting to overthrow the sheikh of Al-Azhar by poisoning students at the University City. The order added that the history of the Muslim Brotherhood, since the era of the late President Anwar Sadat, proves their responsiblity for sectarian conflict in Egypt, backed by Salafis. Azmiya are calling on all Sufis and Sharifs in the country and members of the Egyptian Association of Muslims to join them in the rally, adding: "We have finally realised that this government will not work in Egypt. The Salafis and Muslim Brotherhood conspire to weaken Egypt, but they will soon disappear into the abyss and Egypt will remain elevated despite the trouble they have brought."