Howeidy's name was on a ‘stop list’ at Cairo airport, preventing the journalist from boarding a flight to Spain on Friday, they said.

A writer for Al-Shorouk independent newspaper whose articles are widely read across the Arab world, Howeidy fiercely censured last July's ouster of Muslim Brotherhood affiliated Morsi.

The army toppled Morsi, following massive rival demonstrations in favor and opposing his presidency mostly in the streets of Cairo just one year after he was democratically elected into office.

Howeidy previously worked for state-run Al-Ahram newspaper.

International rights group have raised concerns that basic freedoms could be further eroded in Egypt if the presidential frontrunner, ex-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, wins next week's presidential election.

Sisi is widely expected to trounce his rival, but equally anti-Islamist presidential candidate, leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi.

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