While the Muslim Brotherhood welcomed the decision and described it as a “victory for the values of the constitution and law,” civil political powers and parties categorically rejected it as an “unprecedented violation of the nation’s top court – the Supreme Constitutional Court”.

Rif’at al-Sa’īd, the leader of the leftist al-Tajammu’ (Grouping) Party, said the decision is a “grave mistake” any president should not commit, adding the president’s decision disrespected the top institution of justice in Egypt. [Jamāl Abū al-Dahab, Marwah al-Haddād, ‘Abīr al-Mursī, Hānī ‘Izzat and ‘Imād al-Dīn Sābir, al-Ahrām, July 9, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic