CAIRO, Sept 29 (Aswat Masriya) – The Cairo Urgent Matters Court banned on Monday the activities of the Esteqlal (Independence) political party, one of the members of the pro-Mohamed Mursi Anti-Coup Alliance.

The court accused the banned party of "harbouring extremist thoughts which harm national security." It based its judgment on the belief that the party jeopardises  "national unity, societal peace and democratic system" since the party views the Islamist President Mursi's military ouster on July 3, 2013 as a "coup" and not "an implementation of people's desire."

The plaintiff, a former chairman of the State Security Court, described the party as "one of the political arms of the pro-Mursi Anti-Coup Alliance." He said the Islamist party's existence violates Article 74 of the new constitution, which bans the formation of religious parties.

The Anti-Coup Alliance, also known as the National Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy, was formed in late June 2013 to voice its support for Mursi's "legitimate" presidency. It was made up of a group of Islamist political parties, headed by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and including the al-Wasat Party and the Watan Party as well as a number of public figures.

The alliance has been rallying protesters to decry Mursi's military ouster since July 3, 2013. Protests have nevertheless decreased with time, their impact becoming weaker by the day.

The Freedom and Justice Party was banned by a court order in August. The ruling followed listing the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation last December.