Qaradawi urges Egyptians to stand behind president

Supporters of  President Mohamed Mursi shouting slogans during a rally around Raba El-Adwyia mosque square in Cairo yesterday. Tens of thousands of supporters of Mursi gathered in Cairo after Friday prayers to show support for him before protests that his opponents hope can force him from office. INSET: Yusuf al-Qaradawi: appeal

President Mohamed Mursi is the legitimate representative of the people whom all Egyptians should back, Doha-based Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi said yesterday.

In his Friday sermon at Omar bin al-Khattab Mosque, Qaradawi said Mursi had won the majority of votes in a fair election.

“The man is building Egypt and everyday he has achievements. Yet, some people come and say ‘We do not want Mursi’.  What wrong has Mursi done? Has he killed people? Has he violated any religious duties? Instead, people tried to break into his palace and he did not prosecute anybody,” he said.

He added that there were many parties and entities in Egypt that paid billions of pounds to stop the country from making any real progress. He described them as the supporters and remnants of the former regime.

Mursi’s opponents have called for a demonstration on June 30, the first anniversary of his taking office, to press for his resignation and early presidential elections. 

“This is strange, you Egyptians have waited patiently for more than 60 years under an oppressive regime, which used to undermine your dignity and freedom without any free and fair elections. People were deprived of their rights. But when it comes to Mursi, you could not wait for one year. I have visited the man alone and with some Muslim scholars and I see him as a good man,” he said.

Qaradawi urged Egyptians not to take part in the demonstration against him, warning that supporters of the former regime could stir up violence.

He said that Mursi still had three years in office and should be allowed to complete his term.

“I advise the wise people to let this day pass and focus on the upcoming parliament elections, where they are free to choose whoever represents them best,” he said.

Qaradawi affirmed that Islam is always connected with politics. However, this does not mean rule by the clergy but by a civilian government that upholds Shariah, he said.

He also reiterated his support for the Syrian people and their struggle against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and asked “all nations of the world to hurry to their support and put an end to the manslaughter going on in Syria at the hands of the regime”.