Travel Bans: Extrajudicial Punishment
From the report "Military Trials and Counterterrorism Cases: The State’s Tools to Curb Political Violence in Egypt Since 2013"
Egyptian authorities use travel bans as a tool to suppress political activists and human rights defenders without clear legal grounds or judicial rulings. Individuals are placed on no-travel lists without prior notice and often without any fair legal proceedings.
The report reveals that hundreds of individuals—including journalists, lawyers, academics, and human rights activists—have been barred from leaving the country or detained at airports without legal explanation. In some cases, their assets have also been frozen as part of a broader repression strategy.
These measures violate the right to freedom of movement, as guaranteed by the Egyptian Constitution and international treaties. They serve as a means to silence independent voices and prevent activists from exposing human rights violations on the international stage.
Arbitrary travel bans must be lifted, and all citizens must be guaranteed their right to free movement. Security lists used to punish dissenters outside the framework of the law should be abolished.
Read the full report:
