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Egypt may ban Brotherhood supporters from joining army

The recent announcement by Egyptian attorney Azeb Makhlouf warning about the recruitment of men affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the Egyptian army has stirred controversy.

A member of the presidential guards a military helicopter of former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as he boards it after swearing in as Egypt's new president in a ceremony at the Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo June 8, 2014. Sisi was sworn in as president of Egypt on Sunday in a ceremony with low-key attendance by Western allies concerned by a crackdown on dissent since he ousted Islamist leader Mohamed Mursi last year. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh  (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3SQ85
A member of the presidential guards protects a military helicopter in Cairo, June 8, 2014. — REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

The announcement made by attorney at law Azeb Makhlouf before the public prosecutor, warning about the recruitment of young men affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood into the Egyptian army, aroused major controversy in juridical, political and military circles. This announcement came following the al-Farafra slaying incident in which one of its victims from the armed forces was said to be a supporter of the Brotherhood, and suspected of having helped facilitate the attack. As a result, Makhlouf’s announcement stirred debate concerning the Brotherhood’s involvement in the armed forces.

The former director of the anti-terrorism unit in the military intelligence services, Maj. Salameh al-Jawhari, told Al-Monitor, “The military service is every Egyptian’s duty. No one should be denied service in the military, even if they are members or supporters of the Brotherhood.”

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