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Matsadaash editorial team arrested by Egyptian security forces
The entire editorial team of the Egyptian investigative journalism and fact-checking platform Matsadaash has been arrested by security forces. The crackdown began late on Monday, September 28, 2026, with raids on the homes of journalists Mohamed Ashraf Abu Emeira and Abdallah Qadry. Over the following hours, four more journalists—Islam Barakat, Omar Helal, Mohamed Mahmoud, and Mohamed Adel—were also taken into custody.
During the raids, security forces reportedly confiscated laptops and mobile phones and caused damage to personal property. The Egyptian authorities have not provided official reasons for the arrests, nor have they disclosed the current location or the specific entities holding the journalists.
Civil society organizations and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), which is providing legal assistance, have called for the immediate release of the staff. The EIPR noted that these arrests bring the total number of journalists currently detained in Egypt for their work to 26. Matsadaash, founded in 2018, is known for its in-depth reporting and efforts to debunk misinformation in Egypt and the wider Arab region.
Entities
Abdallah Qadry · Egypt · Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights · Matsadaash · Matsaddash · Mohamed Ashraf Abu Emeira
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The arrests began on the evening of Monday, September 28, and continued into Tuesday, September 29, 2026. www.ec-rf.net · www.alaraby.co.uk · www.newarab.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Security forces confiscated phones and laptops during the raids. www.ec-rf.net · www.alaraby.co.uk · www.newarab.com · nos.nl
- [○ 1 SOURCE] There are currently 26 journalists being held in Egypt due to their work. nos.nl
- [● 4 SOURCES] Six journalists were arrested in total. www.ec-rf.net · www.alaraby.co.uk · www.newarab.com · nos.nl
- [● 4 SOURCES] The entire editorial team of the Matsadaash platform has been detained by security forces. www.ec-rf.net · www.alaraby.co.uk · www.newarab.com · nos.nl
- [● 2 SOURCES] The platform was founded in 2018 to conduct in-depth reporting and fact-checking. www.ec-rf.net · nos.nl
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights is providing legal representation for the detained journalists. www.alaraby.co.uk · nos.nl
- [● 4 SOURCES] The authorities have not disclosed the reasons for the arrests or the location of the journalists. www.ec-rf.net · www.alaraby.co.uk · www.newarab.com · nos.nl