Brotherhood calls for mass protests Sunday to support Morsi decrees

The Muslim Brotherhood is calling for mass protests to take place Sunday in support of the newly issued constitutional declaration by President Mohamed Morsi, who hails from their ranks. The demonstrations are planned to take place in Egypt's town and city squares following dawn prayers. The statement containing the call to demonstrate defended the president's decree decision, arguing it seeks to finalise the draft constitution. The group further condemned those who oppose the decree, accusing them of trying to "hurdle the drafting of the new constitution and the planned parliamentary elections in an attempt to topple the regime and take over power." "They (demonstrators against the constitutional declaration) protested using bad language and with the help of thugs destroyed and burned the Freedom and Justice Party (the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood) headquarters while others attacked the police using Molotov cocktails and stones and set fire to public institutions." The call to support the presidential decree further condemned Friday's anti-Morsi protests as "irresponsible" and "aimed at destroying state institutions," adding that the protests betray a lack of respect for the will of the people. The Brotherhood, however, added that despite the "mental and physical assault" it has suffered, it still seeks to "accomplish the country's interests in a democratic and just context." Over 30 parties and groups participated in Friday's demonstrations across Egypt, protesting the new constitutional declaration. The constitutional declaration blocks the judiciary, or any other body, from challenging Morsi's decisions. The decree also guarantees the Shura Council (the upper house of parliament) and the controversial Islamist-led Constituent Assembly against dissolution by court order. Commentators, critics and protesters soon dubbed Morsi as the "new Pharaoh," branding the new constitutional declaration as dictatorial. The declaration also included the sacking of the prosecutor general, who Morsi had attempted to remove some weeks ago but could not due to a prior legal barrier. Morsi also ordered the retrial of ousted president Hosni Mubarak and aides in relation to the killing of protesters during the January 25 Revolution.