when a person can't leave their country

[English4everyone]

My friend was not allowed to get out of this country for some reasons. Maybe for political reasons.
How can I say that in English? "My friend was ..."

[emsr2d2]

In the UK, people only have their right to travel taken away on criminal grounds, not political. For example, some football hooligans have their passports taken away and they have to report to a police station on the day of an England match in a foreign country, to prove that they are here, not there. As far as I know, it's just referred to as a travel ban. The person is "banned/barred from travelling abroad".

[bhaisahab]

I believe that in some countries one has to apply for an "exit visa/permit".