Egyptian authorities released prominent journalist Lina Attalah and ordered the closure of her independent news outlet, Mada Masr, after a court ruling in Cairo. The legal action against Attalah and her publication has triggered fresh international concern over the state of press freedom in Egypt.
Attalah, who serves as the editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, was taken briefly into custody after a Cairo court convicted her of managing an unlicensed website. The news outlet said authorities freed her after the publication paid a fine of three million Egyptian pounds, equivalent to about $53,500 or £40,100.
Hassan al-Azhari, the lawyer representing Attalah, explained the circumstances surrounding her legal status following the hearing. The defence team discovered during the process that Attalah had been sentenced in absentia in 2024 to a year in prison alongside a separate fine of 20,000 Egyptian pounds.
The defence team immediately appealed that initial sentence. Azhari confirmed that a new court hearing for a retrial of the case was scheduled for 11 November.
Attalah’s legal representatives suggested that she was ambushed during a court appearance. A judge appointed a defence lawyer for her before security personnel detained her directly inside the courtroom.
The court also ordered the website of Mada Masr to be shut down. The news outlet previously stated that it had applied for an official operating licence three years ago but never received a reply from Egyptian authorities.
This legal blow follows the recent arrest of the entire six-person team at Matsadaash, an independent factchecking platform. Those journalists faced accusations of belonging to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
Hossam Bahgat, the head of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, attended the court hearing and spoke about the broader implications of the events. He stated that the security agencies were moving from years of harassing independent media to wiping them out completely.
Bahgat added that the escalation validated fears that the detention of the Matsadaash journalists signalled a severe campaign against the press. He warned that the actions risk fully eviscerating the narrow margin of press freedom maintained in Egypt over the past decade.
According to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the moves against independent media follow frequent statements made by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi since August alleging a conspiracy to destabilise the country. The president stated his intention to remain in power until 2030 to protect the nation from saboteurs, criminals, and traitors.
Global watchdogs and human rights organisations responded to the verdict with strong condemnation. Reporters Without Borders called the court decision outrageous and shameful, while Amnesty International described the verdict as a crushing blow to press freedom. The Committee to Protect Journalists also condemned the ruling.
Pen International joined dozens of civil society organisations in issuing a statement criticising the developments. The writers association noted that although this marked the sixth case brought against Mada Masr in six years, it was the first time such a case had been referred to trial.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Egypt is among the top jailers of journalists globally, with 25 reporters currently behind bars.
