Egyptian authorities barred the leader of Egypt s strongest opposition group, the banned Muslim Brotherhood, from traveling to Saudi Arabia for a religious pilgrimage, an official from the group said on Tuesday. Masoud El-Sebahy, a senior aide to Mohamed Mahdi Akef, the group s General Guide, told Reuters Akef had requested permission to perform the minor Umra pilgrimage because his name was on a list of people barred from travel. We submitted the request more than three days ago and it was initially rejected but they [security authorities] said it would be reviewed. But they rejected it again, said Sebahy, who was supposed to accompany Akef along with another official. Despite the travel ban, Brotherhood officials say they are sometimes allowed to leave Egypt. Last year Akef was allowed to go to Mecca to perform the Haj pilgrimage. Interior Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment. The Brotherhood is Egypt s strongest opposition group and has been outlawed since 1954. Members elected as independents hold 88 seats in the 454-seat parliament, dominated by the ruling National Democratic Party. The Egyptian police regularly detain Brotherhood members for brief periods. Hundreds were arrested in a crackdown following parliamentary elections last year but most have been released.
