Egypt Court Orders Mada Masr Closure, Fines and Detains Editor Lina Attalah
An Egyptian court, the New Cairo Misdemeanours Court, convicted Mada Masr editor-in-chief Lina Attalah of managing an unlicensed website, ordered the independent outlet's closure and imposed a 3 million Egyptian pound fine, detaining her until payment. Rights groups including Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders condemned the ruling, noting Mada Masr had sought a licence since 2018 without response. The decision drew international criticism and protests from 119 NGOs and media outlets.
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Egypt Shuts Down Last Independent News Site Mada Masr, Detains Editor
An Egyptian court ordered the closure of Mada Masr, one of the country's few remaining independent news outlets, and authorities detained its editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah. The New Cairo Misdemeanour Court fined Attalah more than three million Egyptian pounds (about 48,000 euros) for operating a website without a license; Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says she had sought a permit since 2018 without any response from authorities. Mada Masr, founded in 2013 shortly before Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's takeover, has been blocked in Egypt since 2017, and its newsroom was raided in 2019 with four staffers arrested. Attalah, a 2020 RSF Press Freedom Award winner, faces a second case and a prior one-year suspended sentence handed down in absentia in 2024, which she is appealing; a hearing is set for November 11. RSF ranked Egypt 169th of 180 countries in its 2026 press freedom index, and 119 NGOs and media outlets protested the decision.
Read sourceEgypt Shuts Down Last Independent News Site Mada Masr, Detains Editor
An Egyptian court has ordered the closure of Mada Masr, one of the country's few remaining independent news websites, and authorities detained its editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah. The New Cairo Misdemeanour Court fined Attalah more than three million Egyptian pounds (about 48,000 euros) for operating a website without a license. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that Attalah had sought a license since 2018 without receiving any response from authorities. Mada Masr, founded in 2013 shortly before President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's takeover, has been blocked in Egypt since 2017. Attalah, who won RSF's Press Freedom Award in 2020, faces a second case and a prior one-year suspended sentence from 2024, with an appeal hearing set for November 11. RSF ranked Egypt 169th out of 180 countries in its 2026 press freedom index, calling it one of the world's largest jailers of journalists. A total of 119 NGOs and media outlets protested the decision, and US Senator Chris Van Hollen called the charges against Attalah baseless.
Read sourceEgyptian journalist Lina Attalah detained after court orders Mada Masr closure
An Egyptian court has ordered the closure of Mada Masr, one of Egypt's last independent news outlets, and detained its editor Lina Attalah. The court also issued a fine of LE3 million (3 million Egyptian pounds) against Attalah. The BBC, Financial Times, New York Times, and other outlets reported the developments, with critics warning of a broader crackdown on press freedom in Egypt. Mada Masr itself confirmed Attalah was in custody following the court ruling. The closure marks a significant blow to independent journalism in the country.
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Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah detained after court orders Mada Masr closure
An Egyptian court convicted Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the independent news outlet Mada Masr, of managing an unlicensed website and ordered the site's closure, her lawyers said. The New Cairo Misdemeanours Court handed down the maximum penalty of a 3m Egyptian pound ($53,500) fine, and Attalah was taken into custody until she pays it. Amnesty International called the verdict 'a crushing blow to press freedom,' while the Committee to Protect Journalists demanded her immediate release, noting Mada Masr had repeatedly sought an operating licence since a 2018 media law but its applications were rejected or unanswered. The ruling follows charges against six journalists at the fact-checking platform Matsda2sh and comes amid what rights groups describe as an unprecedented crackdown on dissent under President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, with Egypt among the world's top jailers of journalists.
Egyptian Court Fines Journalist Lina Attalah, Orders Mada Masr Closure
An Egyptian court has issued a LE3 million fine against journalist Lina Attalah and ordered the closure of the independent news outlet Mada Masr. Attalah is reportedly in custody following the ruling. The decision has drawn international criticism, with press freedom advocates warning of a broader crackdown on independent media in Egypt. The New York Times, BBC, DW, and The Washington Post all reported on the case, highlighting concerns over freedom of the press. The Washington Post additionally noted that the crackdown has drawn criticism on Capitol Hill, indicating international political ramifications.
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