Egypt Detains Lina Attalah and Orders Mada Masr Closed

Egyptian authorities detained Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of independent news outlet Mada Masr, after the New Cairo Misdemeanours Court convicted her of operating an unlicensed website, fined her 3 million Egyptian pounds ($53,500; £40,100), and ordered the publication to shut down. Her lawyers said she would remain in custody until the maximum possible fine was paid, prompting renewed criticism from press freedom and human rights organizations.

Amnesty International condemned the ruling, while the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called for Attalah's immediate release and urged authorities to allow Mada Masr to continue publishing. The case follows other legal actions against independent journalists in Egypt.

According to the CPJ, 25 journalists are currently imprisoned in Egypt, placing the country among the world's leading jailers of media workers. The organization described Mada Masr, founded in 2013, as an important source of critical reporting that has faced sustained pressure from the authorities.

The CPJ said the outlet had repeatedly applied for an operating license from the Supreme Media Regulatory Council (SMRC) since a new media law took effect in 2018. Its applications were either rejected or left unanswered, according to the press freedom organization.

Amnesty International said Attalah had endured years of pressure connected to her journalism, including six criminal investigations into Mada Masr's reporting.

"This draconian ruling is the culmination of years of relentless harassment and unjust proceedings designed to shut down one of the country's last remaining independent media voices," said Yasmine Ahmed, the organization's senior director for regional impact.

Ahmed also said the prosecution should not have occurred because of Attalah's journalistic work and expression.

"Lina Attalah should never have been prosecuted for exercising her right to freedom of expression and doing her journalistic job."

The case followed a summons last week, when prosecutors questioned Attalah over allegations of publishing "false news" and operating a website without a license. According to Mada Masr's lawyer, investigators examined a recent report about a wave of protests in prisons across the country and a letter from the SMRC concerning the outlet's legal status.

Attalah was released on bail before being referred to trial at the New Cairo Misdemeanours Court. During Tuesday's hearing, Judge Mohammed Mubarak ordered the courtroom cleared of everyone except Attalah, her eight-person defense team, and Hossam Bahgat, head of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR).

Bahgat told AFP that security personnel entered the courtroom before the judge rejected several procedural requests from the defense and appointed a lawyer to represent Attalah. He criticized the handling of the proceedings and described objections raised by the journalist and her legal team.

"In a move that astonished all those present, the judge recorded in the official court minutes that the court had appointed a lawyer from the Lawyers' Syndicate to represent the defence," Bahgat said. "Lina herself spoke up to object to this lawyer being appointed to represent her, which the judge refused to record in the court minutes.

"In an even more shocking turn, the judge proceeded to dictate motions on behalf of this lawyer - who had not uttered a single word - and entered them into the official record," he added.

According to Bahgat, the judge subsequently announced the fine and ordered Mada Masr's closure amid protests from the defense. Attalah was detained following the ruling.

Amnesty International called the decision a serious setback for independent reporting in Egypt and demanded that it be overturned.

"a crushing blow to press freedom"

The CPJ also warned that the decision could have consequences for independent journalists across the country.

"If Egypt can put in custody one of its most respected editors and shut down her newsroom, no independent journalist in the country is safe. Attalah must be released immediately, and Mada Masr must be allowed to keep reporting," said Sara Qudah, the organization's regional director.

The case comes weeks after six journalists working for the independent fact-checking platform Matsda2sh were charged with belonging to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Since President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi led the military overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013, human rights groups have described an extensive crackdown on dissent involving Brotherhood officials and supporters, secular and liberal activists, media workers, and academics.