Anti-Brotherhood group posts full-page New York Times advert

An anti-Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood group on Saturday placed a full page advertisement in U.S. newspaper The New York Times claiming the Brotherhood is supported by al-Qaeda and is responsible for attacks on individuals, churches and public institutions.

In the advert, the group calling itself the “American Egyptians for Justice” requests readers to “join us in asking our government to acknowledge that there is nothing ‘peaceful’ in their [the Brotherhood’s] violent and deadly demonstrations.”

The advert accuses the Islamist movement of attacking “over 90 churches and public institutions” and blames them for the killing of “innocent and unarmed individuals.” The advert also states that Palestine’s political party Hamas is an offshoot of the Brotherhood.

The advert then calls attention to the fact that Hamas has been labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.

‘Mere lies’

“The allegations are nothing but mere lies,” said Tariq Mursi, a spokesperson for the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party who is not related to the ousted Egyptian president, told Al Arabiya English.

“The images used are from the 25th of January revolution. Everyone knows the Muslim Brotherhood and their honorable history,” added Mursi.

“I believe these publications are led by U.S. groups to incite hatred, hostility and violence between the united Egyptians,” he added.

A full-page color advertisement in the New York Times costs between $169,534 to $203,110 to post, a New York Times representative told Al Arabiya English.