Egypt's largest opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, has said on Thursday 49 of its members, who planned to run in the impending parliamentary elections, have encountered obstacles in submitting their candidacy applications to security officials. Electoral authorities began receiving nominee applications Wednesday. The election race is set for 28 November. The group said security authorities accepted only 83 applications out of 132, citing the ratio as evidence of discrimination. It announced, however, it will challenge denials before the High Elections Commission. The application hurdles were seen in Helwan, Fayoum, Qalyubiya, Monufiya, Daqahlia, and Luxor Governorates, according to Brotherhood officials. But a spokesperson for the election commission, Sameh al-Kashif, said the committee is regularly receiving applications. The only complaint issued, he added, was based on the crowding of 100 applicants before the security directorate in Zagazig, Shariqya Governorate. Recently, leaders from the ruling Natoinal Democratic Party have aggressively moved to prevent Brotherhood officials from making gains similar to 2005. Last month, Interior Minister Habib al-Adly warned the group against using religious slogans during its campaign. And on Sunday, the elections commission echoed that warning. Egypt's parliament in 2008 approved an amendment prohibiting the use of religious slogans during general elections. Analysts argued the decision targeted the Brotherhood's traditional campaign maxim, "Islam is the Solution."
