A number of religious figures and groups add their signatures on Sunday to a statement opposing the appointment of the Salafist Mohamed Yosri Ibrahim as minister of religious endowments (awqaf).

The statement was initially released by a group of Sufis (a spiritual brand of Islam) and moderate religious groups on Saturday criticising the choice of Ibrahim and describing it as a threat to Egypt's "moderate Islam."

The statement was signed Sunday morning by more religious groups, including the counselor of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Abdel Dayem Nosseir, and the Sufi Scholars Union headed by Hassan El-Shafei.

Ibrahim revealed on his Twitter account on Friday that he accepted the ministerial post following his meeting with Prime Minister Hisham Qandil.

The newly-appoitned premier has been in continuous meetings to form a cabinet, which he is set to announce on Thursday.