Egypt MP condemns release of US NGO workers

Independent MP Mostafa Bakry has demanded that Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri and the justice and foreign ministers explain to Parliament why the travel ban on US NGO workers was lifted. 

Bakry made the comments on the Good Morning Egypt TV show on Thursday.

“Field Marshal Tantawi [Egypt's de facto leader] should frankly explain the details of the NGO case in order to end any confusion about the official position on the matter,” Bakry said.

“What happened [the lifting of the travel ban] is an assault on judicial independence.

“American and European pressure should have been rejected."

Egyptian authorities on Wednesday lifted a travel ban on 19 US NGO workers charged with receiving illegal foreign funding and working without a formal license.

The case has led to a severe worsening in Egypt-US relations in recent months.

Bakry has a long history of making controversial statements. In February he accused Mohamed ElBaradei of inciting American and Zionist agents who want to "hijack the revolution."