Lina Attalah of Mada Masr referred to trial in Egypt

Lina Attalah, the editor-in-chief of the independent news outlet Mada Masr, has been referred to trial by Egypt’s Supreme State Prosecution. The charge involves establishing and managing a website without a license.

Attalah was released on bail of 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,800) following more than six hours of questioning. While she was also questioned regarding the publication of false news, her lawyer, Hassan al-Azhari, stated that this specific charge was not included in the court referral. If convicted, Attalah faces fines ranging from one to three million Egyptian pounds ($18,000 to $54,000), and the court may order the closure of Mada Masr and the confiscation of its equipment.

Mada Masr has been blocked in Egypt since 2017 and has reportedly applied for a license several times since 2018 without a response from the Supreme Media Regulatory Council. This legal action marks the sixth case brought against the outlet or its journalists in the last six years.