Egypt bans top human rights lawyer from travel abroad

A prominent Egyptian human rights lawyer says he has been banned from leaving the country, the latest in a series of travel bans imposed on rights activists.

Negad Borai, who runs the United Group for Law, says he was heading to Jordan to visit his wife when airport authorities informed him that the public prosecutor’s office has banned him from travel.

Egyptian officials provided no further details.

The ban comes amid an investigation based on an anti-torture bill drafted by Borai and submitted to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Borai is being accused of receiving illegal funds and deliberately spreading false information. No official charges have been raised against him so far.

The Egyptian parliament recently passed a new law that puts heavy restrictions on non-governmental organisations.