The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression obtained a final and binding judgment from the Supreme Administrative Court accepting the appeal filed by AFTE’s lawyer. The Court annulled the Interior Minister’s decision to include researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy on the travel ban list.
In its reasoning, the court emphasized that restrictions on freedom of movement may only be imposed by a judge or a public prosecutor. which was not the case in Santawy’s situation, as the Ministry of Interior practiced an authority vested solely in the judiciary, and the fact that Samir’s name is still on the travel ban list on the grounds of an order from a security agency was deemed an encroachment upon the authority of the investigating judge or public prosecutor who alone are competent to issue such an order. The Court emphasized that any travel ban must be issued based on a reasoned judicial order for a specified period, in accordance with Article 62 of the 2014 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement, residence, and migration, and stipulates that no citizen may be expelled from the state’s territory except by a reasoned judicial order for a limited duration and in cases defined by law.
The case dates back to August 2023, when researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy attempted to travel from Cairo International Airport to Vienna to join Central European University (CEU) and pursue a Master’s degree in Anthropology. Despite having all official documents and the required visas, he was prevented from leaving the country three consecutive times by airport authorities without being provided with clear legal grounds.
Previously, the Administrative Court rejected the appeal challenging the Minister of Interior’s decision to place Santawy on the travel ban list, relying on the reasons submitted by the Ministry before the Court. This prompted AFTE to file an appeal on behalf of Santawy before the Supreme Administrative Court due to defects and shortcomings in the earlier judgment. The appeal was registered under No. 56706 for Judicial Year 71 and was submitted in May 2025.
AFTE emphasized that the Supreme Administrative Court’s verdict reaffirmed the constitutional principle of freedom of movement, which cannot be restricted based on vague security considerations lacking a legal basis, particularly amid the targeting of independent academics and researchers.
This restriction followed Santawy’s receipt of Presidential Pardon No. 329 of 2022, which annulled his three-year prison sentence in lawsuit No. 774 of 2021 (Emergency State Security Misdemeanors).
AFTE’s lawyer, Fatma Serag, stated that the judgment constitutes a significant precedent that enshrines the protection of freedom of movement as a fundamental constitutional right and reflects the Administrative Court’s oversight of the Interior Ministry’s discretionary powers.
AFTE welcomed this judicial victory for rights and public freedoms, urging the Interior Ministry to uphold the rule of law and promptly implement the verdict by removing Santawy’s name from the travel ban lists, thereby enabling him to exercise his constitutional right to freedom of movement and to resume his academic career, ensuring his ability to engage in scientific exchange and dialogue with peers in international forums—consistent with the constitutional protection afforded to freedom of movement.
20 December 2025 “Continued Obstacles for Researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy as Administrative Court Rejects His Request to Travel; Appeal Reserved for Judgment on 24 January”
The Administrative Court issued its ruling in the case filed by AFTE on behalf of researcher Ahmed Samir Abdel-Hay Santawy on 22 March 2025, accepting the case procedurally but rejecting it on the merits.
The Ministry of Interior, in its defense, argued that the plaintiff had previously been accused in several cases concerning national security, with final judgments issued against him in some, and that his unlawful activities made him a potential threat to public security. Consequently, he was placed on the travel ban list as a precautionary measure to protect public order and national security.
The foundation appealed the ruling to the Administrative Supreme Court in May 2025 under No. 56706 of Judicial Year 71, arguing that Santawy had been granted a presidential pardon in a case related to spreading false news, and claiming that the lower court’s ruling contained errors in reasoning and misapplication of the law by depriving him of his right to travel.
The court held a session on 20 December 2025 to consider the substantive part of the appeal, and reserved the appeal for judgment on 24 January 2026.
1 September 2024
The Administrative Court has postponed a session to consider the urgent part of the appeal filed by the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) on behalf of its client, researcher Ahmed Samir Abdel Hai Santawy, till 10 November.
The case number 79439 year 78 judicial, is challenging the negative decision of the Ministry of Interior to refrain from allowing the researcher to travel abroad after being prevented from traveling three consecutive times without any legal reason or justification.
The lawsuit has also been referred to the State Council’s Commissioners’ Authority for them to submit an opinion report.
During the session, the organization presented documents including a copy of Santawy’s passport, which had been stamped by the Cairo Airport Passport Authority to permit his departure from the country, before it was canceled hours later when the researcher was barred from leaving.
The organization has named the Minister of Interior, the Director of the Passport and Immigration Administration, and the Director of National Security as the main officials responsible for preventing the researcher from traveling.
Santawy has been attempting to travel to Vienna since August of 2022 to complete his Master’s program in Anthropology at the Central European University in Austria. However, security officials at Cairo Airport have repeatedly prevented him from traveling without an official travel ban decision or inclusion on any travel ban list.
According to the lawsuit, Santawy submitted a complaint to the Ministry of Interior explaining the difficulties he faces and the impact of the travel ban on his future, but he did not receive a response.
11 August 2024: September 1 Hearing Set for Urgent Appeal Filed by Researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy Against Travel Ban
The Administrative Court has scheduled a session on September 1 to consider the urgent part of the appeal filed by Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) on behalf of its client, researcher Ahmed Samir Abdel Hai Santawy, in case number 79439 year 78 judicial, against the negative decision of the Ministry of Interior to refrain from allowing the researcher to travel abroad after being prevented from traveling three consecutive times without any legal reason or justification.
The organization has named the Minister of Interior, the Director of the Passport and Immigration Administration, and the Director of National Security as the main officials responsible for preventing the researcher from traveling.
Santawy has been attempting to travel to Vienna since August of 2022 to complete his Master’s program in Anthropology at the Central European University in Austria. However, security officials at Cairo Airport have repeatedly prevented him from traveling without an official travel ban decision or inclusion on any travel ban list.
According to the lawsuit, Santawy submitted a complaint to the Ministry of Interior explaining the difficulties he faces and the impact of the travel ban on his future, but he did not receive a response.
22 June 2024: AFTE Appeals Against the Negative Decision to Ban Researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy from Traveling
Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) filed a case before the Administrative Court on behalf of its client, researcher Ahmed Samir Abdel Hai Santawy, in case number 79439 year 78 judicial, against the negative decision of the Ministry of Interior to refrain from allowing the researcher to travel abroad after being prevented from traveling three consecutive times without any legal reason or justification.
The organization has named the Minister of Interior, the Director of the Passport and Immigration Administration, and the Director of National Security as the main officials responsible for preventing the researcher from traveling.
Santawy has been attempting to travel to Vienna since August of 2022 to complete his Master’s program in Anthropology at the Central European University in Austria. However, security officials at Cairo Airport have repeatedly prevented him from traveling without an official travel ban decision or inclusion on any travel ban list.
According to the lawsuit, Santawy submitted a complaint to the Ministry of Interior explaining the difficulties he faces and the impact of the travel ban on his future, but he did not receive a response.
Ahmed Samir Santawy was studying a Master’s program in Anthropology at the Central European University in Austria, focusing his research on reproductive rights and the status of abortion in Egypt from the perspectives of law, religion, and society.
He was arrested in February 2021 during a visit to Egypt, which was supposed to be a short visit to see his family, and spent over a year in prison. He was later sentenced to four years in jail and convicted of spreading “false news”, before being released at the end of July 2022 following a presidential pardon.
Since then, Santawy has been unable to return to complete his studies at the same university where he was pursuing his Master’s degree.
