Muhammad Dā’ud, professor of Islamic Sharī‘ah at Suez University, says that the recent Fatwá issued against opposition leader Mohammad al-Barād‘ī for allegedly inciting civil unrest is fanatical.

According to Dā’ud, the Fatwá is based on a crucial misunderstanding about Egyptian politics. “Al-Barād‘ī and opposition differ in opinions with the government. However, both of them seek to prioritize Egypt’s interests,” says Dā’ud.

The obscure Shaykh ‘Āmir issued the Fatwá against Barād‘ī last week because of his call for civil disobedience and a boycott of the 2012 presidential elections.