Legal actions against Egyptian media outlets and journalists

The New Cairo Misdemeanour Court ordered the closure of Mada Masr, an independent news outlet, and fined its editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah, 3 million Egyptian pounds. The court cited the operation of an unlicensed website as the reason for the ruling. This occurred alongside the detention of six journalists from the fact-checking platform Matsda2sh on charges of spreading false news and joining a terrorist group.

Following the ruling, Attalah was found to have an in absentia conviction from 2024 for disseminating false news and operating without a license, which her legal team is contesting. A coalition of 130 international organizations has condemned the proceedings, alleging violations of fair trial guarantees, including restrictions on the defense’s ability to review case files.

Recent developments indicate that Attalah faces a one-year prison sentence in absentia. Meanwhile, the Supreme State Security Prosecution extended the detention of the Matsda2sh journalists. UN experts expressed concern regarding the alleged arrest and enforced disappearance of the entire six-person newsroom, noting they were reportedly detained in late September and held for five days. While the Ministry of Interior confirmed the arrests, reports suggest the staff were allegedly denied access to lawyers. Prosecutors have accused the Matsda2sh team of involvement in a plot to overthrow state institutions, though legal advocates state that questioning has focused on editorial processes and sources. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have described this wave of media restrictions as unprecedented.