CAIRO
Political divisions between supporters and opponents of deposed President Mohamed Morsi are casting a shadow on courtyards dedicated for Eid prayers across Egypt.
This year, separate open spaces have been allocated for supporters and opponents of the ousted president to perform the prayers in different Egyptian governorates.
In the northern city of Alexandria, Morsi's supporters and opponents will pray in separate courtyards.
"We intend to perform Eid prayers in around 200 courtyards and mosques across Alexandria, to be followed by mass demonstrations in support of Morsi," Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Anas al-Qadi told Anadolu Agency.
Tamarod movement, which spearheaded protests that eventually led to Morsi's ouster by the military, plans mass prayers in Sidi Gaber in eastern Alexandria and rallies to reject "foreign interference" in Egyptian affairs.
Egypt has been in the throes of a deep political crisis since the army ousted Morsi, the country's first democratically elected president, after mass demonstrations against his regime.
Ever since his overthrow, Morsi supporters have been staging daily demonstrations and sit-ins to defend his democratic legitimacy and demand his reinstatement.
In the Nile Delta city of Damietta, Morsi opponents will pray in Al-Saah Square, the city's main square.
Charity efforts championed by the Muslim Brotherhood in Damietta ahead of the Islamic religious feast have vanished this year, with many of the group's leaders busy with ongoing pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and Giza and repeated clashes between supporters and opponents in recent weeks.
In Sharqiya, the MB is expected to scrap its Eid festivals to avoid confrontations with rival groups, according to spokesman Ahmed Gaber al-Hajj.
In Menoufiya, the MB said it will continue its charitable activities "despite restrictions and threats".
MB spokesman told AA that courtyards allocated for Eid prayers have dropped from 400 to only 200 because of "restrictions".
Meanwhile, Morsi opponents have agreed to avoid political slogans during this year's Eid prayers.
Christian Copts are planning to greet Muslim worshippers outside Eid courtyards, said Hani Shenouda, coordinator of the National Salvation Front in Menoufiya.
In the canal city of Suez, the MB and opponents are competing to hold the Eid prayers in the Arbaeen Square, an iconic site in the city.
The MB has also called on supporters to gather for prayers at Hamza bin Abdel-Motaleb Mosque.
The canal city of Ismailia will have separate prayer courtyards for MB supporters and Salafists.
The MB appealed to residents to pray in its courtyards "to close the ranks of the Ummah, support legitimacy and reject the military coup".
The Salafist Call, for its part, has called for prayers in open spaces in the west of the city.
In the Upper Egypt governorate of Assiut, 82 courtyards have been allocated for Morsi supporters to perform Eid prayers.
But MB sources predicted a major drop in the numbers of worshippers this year because many supporters were camping out in Rabaa and Nahda squares to demand Morsi's reinstatement.
The Salafist Call, meanwhile, urged supporters to perform the prayers in its courtyards in the center of the governorate.
In Luxor, the MB plans mass Eid prayers in open spaces in the south and south-west of the city.
In Beni Sueif, Morsi supporters will perform prayers in Omar bin Abdel-Aziz Mosque while opponents will pray in al-Zeraeen square and Salafists in al-Nokrashi district.
Islamists will perform prayers in unified courtyards in the governorates of Minya, Sohag and Aswan.
In Gharbiya, residents said they will not pray in courtyards controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood or Salafists.
"Locals used to help Islamists prepare prayer plazas in past years, but the situation changed this year after their true face has been exposed," villager Sami al-Sherif told AA.
Hussein Morad, a resident of Kafr al-Zayat township, said the "MB members are welcomed as worshippers, but will not be allowed to organize the prayers or lead sermons".
englishnews@aa.com.tr
