Cairo court shuts Mada Masr and fines its editor
An Egyptian court in Cairo has convicted Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the independent outlet Mada Masr, of running an unlicensed website. The New Cairo Misdemeanour Court ordered the outlet closed and its equipment seized, and imposed a fine of 3 million Egyptian pounds, about $53,400. Attalah was taken into custody after the verdict and released later on Tuesday once the fine was paid, according to her lawyer. Mada Masr plans to appeal, and a retrial hearing is set for 11 Nov. Reporters Without Borders ranks Egypt 169th of 180 countries for press freedom.
Key facts
- Attalah learned she had been sentenced in absentia in 2024 to one year in prison in a separate case.
- Her lawyers say the court rejected requests to review the case file and submit evidence.
- Journalists were barred from the courtroom during key stages of the hearing, according to reports.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the ruling to be reversed and Attalah released immediately.
- Egypt currently holds 26 journalists in detention because of their work, according to the EIPR.
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Why it matters
The ruling would close one of Egypt's most prominent independent news outlets, which has been blocked in the country since 2017.
What changed
First published from The Hindu, Africanews, Middle East Eye, Al-Monitor and BBC News