[REVISION HISTORY]

Legal proceedings and conviction of Lina Attalah

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2026-10-28 11:13 UTC → 2026-10-29 06:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Egypt’s Supreme State Prosecution previously referred Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the independent news outlet Mada Masr, to trial on charges of operating an unlicensed website and publishing false news. Attalah had been released on bail of 100,000 Egyptian pounds following questioning regarding reporting on prison protests. In a recent ruling, the New Cairo ~~Misdemeanor~~ Misdemeanour Court convicted Attalah of running an unlicensed website. The court imposed a fine of 3 million Egyptian pounds (approximately $54,000) and ordered the immediate closure of Mada Masr and the confiscation of its equipment. Attalah was taken into custody following the verdict and ~~is expected to remain detained until~~ was released several hours later after the fine ~~is paid.~~ was paid in full. During the proceedings, Mada Masr reported that the court refused requests to review case files, submit evidence, or call witnesses. Additionally, the judge appointed a court-assigned lawyer despite objections from Attalah and her eight defense attorneys. The ruling follows years of pressure on the outlet, which has been blocked within Egypt since 2017. Mada Masr, founded in 2013, reported that it had made multiple unsuccessful attempts to obtain the required media ~~license.~~ license since 2018. International rights organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the decision. Human Rights Watch described the ruling as an “outrageous attack on independent media,” while Amnesty International called it a “crushing blow to press freedom.” Reporters Without Borders (RSF) noted that Egypt currently ranks 169th out of 180 in its press freedom index. ~~Following the verdict,~~ Attalah ~~was released from custody several hours after the fine was paid in full. It was revealed that she had previously been sentenced in absentia in~~ also faces a prior 2024 to sentence of one year in ~~prison; her~~ prison handed down in absentia for publishing false news. Her legal team has challenged that ruling, and a retrial is scheduled for November 11.

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