CAIRO

Egyptian lawyers and judges who support democracy initiated the "Anti-coup Lawyers" movement under the leadership of constitutional lawyer Servet Badawi.

Holding a press conference at Cairo's Rab'a al Adaweya Square, the lawyers and judges announced the foundation of the movement.

Egyptian judge Walid ash-Sharab said, referring to the interim President Adly Mansour, "If Morsi had done what the illegitimate president did, it would have been regarded as a major crime."

One of Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) leaders, lawyer Tareeq Shuman also noted that Mansour lacked legitimacy, announcing that they do not recognize as the movement the suspension of the constitution, adjournment of the Shura Council and closure of TV channels.

Organizing a symposium called "Anti-coup Islamic Scholars" on Sunday, Al-Azhar University scholar and Secretary General of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs Salah Sultan denounced that they established the movement "Anti-coup Islamic Scholars" to fight against the military coup in Egypt.

"It was a clear military coup against a just president who was elected freely by his people," he stressed.

englishnews@aa.com.tr