Residents of the peninsula told Al-Masry Al-Youm that these procedures are illogical as they are not living in a different country that requires a visa system. The head of the Lawyers Syndicate in South Sinai governorate said that this system is unconstitutional and violates the law, as the constitutions stipulates freedom of movement for citizens inside Egypt. He pointed out that in such a case, the relatives of residents of South Sinai wouldn’t be able to visit them. Ahmed Ghobashi, who heads a civil coaliation to support tourism in Sharm el-Sheikh, said that this decision would affect the domestic tourism upon which the city is currently dependent to a large extent. Abdel Wahed Abdel Zaher said that it would tighten security in Sinai and block the infiltration of criminals.

Source: Egypt Independent January 15, 2017 10:02 UTC