World Bulletin/News Desk

A new Egyptian law, passed on Wednesday, which criminalizes those who fail to stand in public when the national anthem is played with a jail sentence and fines, is condemned by leader of the Salafist Nour Party.

The military-backed government approved the draft law, which was proposed by the presidency and criminalizes displays of "disrespect" to the country's flag and national anthem. "Disrespect" to the flag and national anthem could result in a jail term of less than six months and/or fines of up to 5,000 Egyptian pounds.

"The current government is interim and unelected and should issue only necessary legislation," Nour party member Salah Abdel-Maaboud said in a statement late Thursday.

Nour was Egypt's only Islamist party to support the "roadmap" imposed by the army after its July 3 overthrow of elected President Mohamed Morsi.

It is also the only one with a representative in the committee tasked with amending the country's constitution -- a major component of the army-imposed roadmap.

"We have reservations towards such bills and the government should pay attention to urgent issues," Abdel-Maaboud said.