DOHA: Muslim Brotherhood-linked theologian Yusuf Al-Qaradawi has resigned from the governing body of Cairo’s Al-Azhar, accusing the top Islamic seat of learning of supporting Egypt’s military-installed government.

“I submit my resignation,” Qaradawi, 86, wrote on Twitter and his Facebook page, accusing the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, of “abusing the authority of the office to support the military coup.”

Egyptian-born Qaradawi, who has been based in Qatar since he was stripped of his citizenship decades ago, has been an outspoken critic of the army’s July 3 ouster of President Muhammad Mursi.

The scholar, who retains huge influence through his regular appearances as a commentator on Doha-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera, issued a religious edict, or fatwa, calling on Egyptians to restore Mursi to “his legitimate post.”

“We have waited for the sheikh of Al-Azhar to return to the correct path and to disassociate himself from the … regime,” he said in Monday’s posting.