An unknown Salafī shaykh has issued a fatwá allowing the shedding of the blood of Muhammad al-Barād‘ī, former Director of the International Atomic Energy Commission.

State-supported newspapers had resumed their attacks on al-Barād‘ī when he returned to Cairo two weeks ago, focusing on his links to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The fatwá appeared on the website of an Islamic Group known as Ansar al-Sunnah al-Muhammadīyyah.

It justified killing al-Barād‘ī by claiming that he "incites people to civil disobedience and is disputing President Mubārak, the legal ruler of the country."