President Mohamed Morsy warned critics on Tuesday that he could deter them through legal means, but added that he would not take this course.

“I tell my detractors, who are few in number, do not test my patience. I can deter you by law, but I prefer cordiality,” Morsy said during a graduation ceremony at the Military Academy which was attended by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

Activists responded to Morsy’s remarks on Twitter. Mamdouh Hamza urged Morsy to exercise self-restraint and be open to criticism.

Gamal Eid, director of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, said Morsy’s threatening tone does not suit the president of a country going through a transitional period.

Morsy has faced much criticism after issuing a presidential decree to reconvene the People’s Assembly in defiance of a Supreme Constitutional Court verdict that rendered the parliamentary elections law unconstitutional.  

On Sunday, Essam al-Erian, acting chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, said in a tweet that as Morsy achieves success, former regime officials rush to attack him.

“Tendentious critics have forgotten that Morsy’s success is a success for Egypt and Arabs. Egypt will reclaim its role if the people stand behind him,” Erian said.