The editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, one of Egypt’s last independent news organizations, is facing trial after a lengthy interrogation by prosecutors. Lina Attalah was questioned for over six hours and subsequently referred to court on charges related to operating a website without a license and allegedly spreading false information.
Charges Against Lina Attalah
The Supreme State Prosecution has formally charged Attalah with running a website without obtaining the necessary legal permissions. While she was interrogated regarding the dissemination of false news, this specific charge was not included in the formal referral to the court, as stated by her attorney, Hassan al-Azhari. Attalah was released on bail, set at 100,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $1,800), but if convicted, she faces steep fines ranging from one to three million Egyptian pounds (around $18,000 to $54,000).
In accordance with Egyptian media legislation, a court ruling could also lead to the closure of Mada Masr and the confiscation of its equipment. Al-Azhari criticized the rapid process of the trial referral, characterizing the urgency as “unjustified.” Attalah is scheduled to appear in court on October 27.
Mada Masr’s Background and Challenges
Mada Masr was established in 2013 and has distinguished itself through investigative journalism, making it a frequent target for government scrutiny. The outlet has been inaccessible in Egypt since 2017. Lina Attalah gained recognition for her contributions to journalism and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2020.
The case against Attalah is part of a broader pattern of government pressure on press freedom in Egypt. The case file includes a recent report by Mada Masr detailing protests in various prisons against a decision by parliament to defer the implementation of a new criminal procedures law.
Mada Masr has repeatedly sought a media license, applying multiple times since 2018. However, they allege that the Supreme Media Regulatory Council has never acknowledged these requests. They only learned of the council’s rejection through prosecutors in 2022 and have contested this decision in court. The outlet’s most recent license application remains pending as of 2023.
Ongoing Press Freedom Issues in Egypt
This latest case marks the sixth time Mada Masr and its journalists have faced legal challenges in the past six years. The situation has been exacerbated by a recent crackdown in which the entire staff of Matsadaash, an independent fact-checking and investigative platform, was arrested during nationwide raids. The six journalists from Matsadaash remain in pre-trial detention, facing serious charges such as alleged affiliation with a terrorist group and the spread of false news; they maintain their innocence.
In response to this escalating situation, Mada Masr, along with seven other Arab media outlets, recently launched a temporary collaborative newsroom focused on fact-checking. This initiative serves as a gesture of solidarity with the detained journalists and emphasizes the ongoing commitment to press freedom.
As a testament to the alarming state of journalism in the country, Egypt is ranked 169th out of 180 nations in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. This ranking reflects the significant challenges that independent media face in Egypt, highlighting the urgent need for reform in the treatment of journalists and media organizations.