A young member of Egypt’s powerful Muslim Brotherhood was killed and 60 people were injured in clashes with protesters yesterday — as the organization prepared for nationwide demonstrations in support of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
Islam Fathi Mohammed was killed in clashes outside the Brotherhood headquarters in the town of Damanhour, said one of the movement’s leaders, Jamal Hichmat.
Witnesses said clashes had broken out in Damanhour between supporters and opponents of Morsi during protests against the sweeping powers he has assumed.
And in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, a mob of about 300 youths ripped the clothes off three young women, forcing them to take refuge in a government building, the state-run Ahram Gate reported.
The US Embassy warned Americans to avoid all places where demonstrations were likely to be held as Western concern mounted over the potential for new violence.
And Republican Sen. John McCain warned yesterday on “Fox News Sunday” that Egypt could become an Islamist state or face another military takeover if Morsi is unchecked.
Asked about the chance of a new Islamist state in Egypt, McCain replied: “I think it could be headed that way. You also could be headed back into a military takeover if things went in the wrong direction. You could also see a scenario where there is continued chaos.”
A Brotherhood statement called on its well-organized supporters to hold demonstrations after sunset in all of Egypt’s main cities to “support the decisions of the president.”
The Brotherhood’s political arm insists Morsi’s decree, which places his decisions beyond judicial review, was a necessary move to prevent the courts from disbanding the Islamist-dominated panel drawing up a constitution.
But judges have hit back, denouncing it as “an unprecedented attack on the independence of the judiciary and its rulings” and calling for the courts to stop work nationwide.