Egypt's general prosecution has ordered the arrest of Essam Sultan, former MP and leading member of the Islamist Wasat Party, on charges of insulting the judiciary.

Sultan appeared before the prosecution for those charges on 29 May and was released on bail.

Tensions between Islamists and the judiciary have soared in April after Islamist members of the upper house of parliament, Shura Council – now dissolved – had proposed a judicial authority law rejected by a majority of Egyptian judges.

Many members of the Muslim Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party as well as other non-Islamist activists and journalists were also investigated for similar charges during the past year.