Political Islam seems to be in its death throes in Egypt, once the epicenter of the movement. The Muslim Brotherhood has survived previous crackdowns by the state during Mubarak’s rule, but there is one massive difference this time, they no longer enjoy popular support and are now the most detested group in Egypt.

Via AFP:

Abdul Salam Badr had no choice but to shave his beard to save himself from becoming a target in Egypt’s crackdown on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

In recent days, overt signs of piety have become all it takes to attract suspicion from security forces at Cairo checkpoints and vigilantes looking to attack Islamists.

“I was in a shared taxi headed to the morgue, transporting the body of my friend who was killed in the demonstrations,” said Badr.

“I was stopped by members of a vigilante group because I had a beard,” added the 29-year-old, who said he was not loyal to any political organisation.

“The only thing that saved me was the fact that I was transporting a dead body.”

And so in a small, dusty salon, he shaved his facial hair, “because life has become safer without a beard.”

The ouster of Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, has set off something of a witch hunt against those perceived as being his supporters.