Prosecutor dismisses reports of travel bans

The prosecutor general denied that any travel bans were imposed Wednesday on prominent politicians, activists and media personnel, as reported earlier in the day by several national newspapers.

Privately-owned Al-Masry Al-Youm reported travel bans on 19 people Wednesday morning on accusations of insulting the judiciary, according to Cairo Appeals Court.

Among the 19 were: Former parliamentary members Mahmoud al-Khodairy, Montasser al-Zayyat and Mahmoud al-Saqah, writer and journalist Abdel Halim Qandil, TV host Tawfiq Okasha, Abdel Rahman al-Qaradawy, Jama’a al-Islamiya leader Assem Abdel Maged, and activist Alaa Abd El Fattah.

The defendants have also been accused of influencing public opinion in favor of one political party over another, in addition to publishing information in attempts to sway judges assigned to specific law suits, the newspaper added.

A travel ban was previously issued on July 4 in the same case, including restrictions on ousted President Mohamed Morsi for insulting Judge Ali el-Nemr and accusing him of rigging the 2005 parliamentary elections. The ban also included former head of parliament Mohamed Saad al-Katatny, former members of parliament Essam Sultan, Sobhi Saleh and former Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mahdi Akef.