Minister of Culture Alaa Abdel Aziz took part on Friday in a march to declare support for Jerusalem at Raba’a al-Adaweya Mosque in Cairo.

The minister gave a speech before a multitude of Islamist supporters following noon prayers at the mosque.

Abdel Aziz said he will work on freeing the Egyptian culture, adding, "We will not have Islamists exclude anyone."

The attendees chanted in support of the minister, the state news agency MENA reported.

Scores of artists have voiced their objection to Abdel Aziz's decisions sacking several prominent figures in the ministry.

Some intellectuals have claimed the minister has "a plan to brotherhoodise Egyptian culture and obliterate national identity".