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The verdict against them under God’s law is death

“The verdict against them under God’s law is death,” he said.

Separately, another hard line cleric, Wagdi Ghoneim, issued a video statement pleading with Mr. Morsi to crack down heavily on those outside his palace. “The verdict under shariah for those who seek corruption on earth is to be fought, or crucified, or have their arms or legs cut off or be exiled from earth,” he said.

“Strike with an iron fist. Otherwise, the country will be lost at your hand and they’ll say it is your fault. They’ll say Islam doesn’t know how to rule and that it’s the Islamists who wrecked the country.”

Top prosecutor Talaat Ibrahim on Thursday ordered an investigation into Mr. Shaaban for his fatwa.

A third fanned the flames by justifying a string of mob sexual assaults on women protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

“They are going there to get raped,” cleric Ahmed Mohammed Abdullah said, depicting them as loose women.

He spoke of their curly hair, saying, “These are devils named women…. They speak with no femininity, no morals, no fear…. Learn from Muslim women, be Muslims.”

Sexual assaults on women protesters have spiked in Egypt’s wave of unrest since late January, with at least 19 reported on Jan. 25 alone. In many cases, mobs stripped women, penetrating them with knives and other objects, according to rights groups.

The TV screeds by the clerics reflect the fury with which some ultraconservatives have reacted to nationwide protests against Mr. Morsi, which turned into deadly clashes as police cracked down on the demonstrators.