An Egyptian court has ordered the closure of Mada Masr, one of the country’s few independent news websites, after convicting its editor-in-chief Lina Attalah of operating without a license. The court imposed the maximum fine of 3 million Egyptian pounds (around $53,400) and ordered the confiscation of the website’s equipment.
Lina Attalah, a prominent journalist in Egypt, was detained for several hours following the verdict and released after Mada Masr paid the fine. Attalah also faces a separate prison sentence and fine in a case related to charges of spreading false news and running an unlicensed website, with a new hearing scheduled for November.
The ruling reflects ongoing tensions between independent media outlets and Egyptian authorities, who have blocked access to Mada Masr since 2017 and repeatedly challenged its licensing efforts.
Details of Lina Attalah’s Trial
During the trial held in Cairo, Attalah’s defense team said their requests to review the case file and submit additional evidence were rejected. Reports indicate a judge appointed a new lawyer to represent Attalah against the defense team’s objections and dictated motions on the lawyer’s behalf, which were entered into the official record. Attalah was briefly detained after the verdict amid protests by her defense team.
Background on Mada Masr and Legal Challenges
Founded in 2013, Mada Masr is recognized for its investigative reporting on corruption, human rights issues, and the role of Egypt’s military. Despite applying for a license in 2018, the outlet claims it received no response until prosecutors cited the lack of a license during legal proceedings in 2022. Mada Masr has since had multiple cases filed against it and its journalists, with this recent trial marking the first of its kind regarding operating without a license.
International Reactions and Press Freedom Concerns
Rights organizations and press freedom advocates condemned the court ruling. A coalition of 119 groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Committee to Protect Journalists labeled the prosecution an unprecedented attack on press freedom in Egypt. Reporters Without Borders called the verdict shameful, while U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen criticized the charges as baseless, asserting that journalism is not a crime.
Broader Crackdown on Independent Journalism in Egypt
The closure of Mada Masr takes place amid intensified suppression of independent media in Egypt. In September, six journalists from the fact-checking platform Matsadaash were arrested on terrorism-related charges, accused of links to the banned Muslim Brotherhood and spreading misinformation. Human rights groups report that detained journalists have faced torture allegations, which the Interior Ministry denies. Prolonged pretrial detentions for journalists remain a significant concern, with rights organizations citing 26 media workers currently imprisoned for their reporting.
