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Muslim Brotherhood supporters rally in Egypt

Supporters of Mohammed Mursi, Egypt’s first elected president, demonstrated in Cairo’s southern district of Maadi. Some held pictures of their fallen members. Others called for Mursi to be reinstated, urging military leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi to step aside.

Other scattered protests occurred across Egypt.

Mursi was overthrown along with his Muslim Brotherhood-led government in July 3 coup after millions protested against his leadership, claiming the Islamist president was incompetent and overstepped his authority during a year in power.

Since then, Brotherhood supporters have staged near-daily rallies around the country, protesting security crackdown in which hundreds have been killed and more than 2,000 of group’s members have been jailed. Mursi has been held incommunicado since his ousting and a court has ordered an outright ban on his group.

An umbrella group of Islamist parties, including the Brotherhood, said Friday’s rallies were the beginning of a weeklong protest campaign until Nov. 4 when Mursi is scheduled to appear in court. The campaign has been dubbed the week of “steadfastness.”

Mursi faces criminal charges accusing him of inciting the murder of rallying opponents while he was in office.

Authorities have not said whether Mursi will appear at the hearing. If he does, it will be his first public appearance since the coup.