Al-Azhar’s Islamic Research Academy has said it is prohibited to attack army and army forces or facilities, hours after seven people were killed in clashes between supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsy and security forces in Cairo.
Al-Azhar officials, meeting on Tuesday morning, meanwhile praised the army for its pains "not to be dragged into politics."
They said attacks on security forces were not permissible under any circumstances.
A statement released after the meeting urged security forces to protect all Egyptian citizens' lives and to carry out arrests and custodial detentions according to the law.
Al-Azhar officials have reiterated their call for the immediate formation of an inclusive national reconciliation panel.
The deaths, according to the Health Ministry, occurred at Ramsis Square, 6th of October Bridge, Giza Square, Nahda Square and al-Bahr al-Aazam Street.
Tensions between Morsy supporters and police officers, backed by protesters, spiked ater Islamist demonstrations vowed to escalate their demand to resinstate Morsy as Egyptian president after he was removed in a 3 July overthrow led by the armed forces.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
