The Azhar, commenting on the ruling, said the top Sunnī establishment supports the judiciary and the respects legitimacy, adding justice has the final say on everything.

“The Azhar is not dictating anything to any institution. It has expressed rejection against participation in the constituent assembly in its formation because it felt it was marginalized, which is not accepted by the Azhar,” Dr. Mahmūd ‘Azab, an advisor to Grand Shaykh of the Azhar, said.

The Coptic Orthodox Church also welcomed the ruling, noting its decision to quit the constituent panel was taken by several institutions, including the Azhar, the Supreme Constitutional Court and several political parties and figures, which indicates that there was something wrong with the formation of the constitution-drafting assembly. [Dīyā’ Abū al-Safā and Husnī Mīlād, al-Akhbār, April 11, p. 5] Read text in Arabic