For the first time, Egypt's Military Academy has admitted students whose families are affiliated with the ruling Muslim Brotherhood, including President Muhammed Mursi's nephew, causing outrage among opposition which termed it as "brotherhoodisation" of the institute.
Major General Esmat Mourad, the director of the Military Academy, confirmed the admission of Mursi's nephew into the premier academy saying that applicants are judged only upon their skills.
"They meet the scientific and physical criteria," he said.
"Should we reject a student because his father or uncle belongs to the Brotherhood?"
"If they indulge in politics after they graduate, the military law would be applied to them," he added. "And if while still at the academy, they are dismissed."
The academy checks the families of the applicants up to the fourth degree only in regards to criminal records, not political orientation, Mourad explained.
President Morsi's nephew was accepted into the academy because he excelled in the physical fitness tests, the general asserted, claiming, "I deal with him as a student and not the president's nephew."
In response to the announcement, a number of party leaders spoke out against what they call the "brotherhoodisation" of the military institution, claiming that the enrollment of Mursi's nephew and other Brotherhood members was a disaster.
"Military college rules and regulations state that allegiance is only to the homeland, and not to some partisan or political institution," said Fouad Badrawy, secretary general of the Wafd Party.
"This applies to everyone, even the president's nephew."
"The army is the nation's protective shield, and must remain independent from politics," Badrawy said.
"This is an attempt to convert the army from a defender of the country into a defender of the regime."
Nabil Zaki, spokesperson for the Tagammu Party, said Brotherhood members vow blind obedience to the group and its leader. "
Will this not be at the expense of loyalty to the homeland?" he wondered.
Naguib Abadir of the Free Egyptians Party said this latest move is part of the Islamists' tireless pursuit of taking over all state institutions.
