Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of independent news outlet Mada Masr, was detained by security forces on Tuesday after a court fined her for allegedly operating the publication without a license, the outlet reported. The misdemeanor court issued its ruling after a single hearing, ordering the website’s closure and imposing a fine of approximately €850 on Attalah, according to Mada Masr. The publication said security personnel surrounded Attalah after the ruling, lifted her off the ground and carried her out of the courtroom. She remained in custody at the courthouse, it added. Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), who attended the hearing, said the judge announced the decision amid protests from defense lawyers.
The case marks the sixth legal proceeding involving Attalah and Mada Masr in six years, although the previous cases had not reached trial, the outlet said. The detention comes amid renewed concerns over press freedom in Egypt, where authorities have faced criticism from human rights organizations over restrictions on independent journalism. It follows the recent arrests of journalists associated with Matsadaash, an online fact-checking platform, who were accused of spreading false information and having links to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Such allegations have frequently featured in cases involving media organizations critical of the government, although the accusations must be assessed individually. EIPR says dozens of journalists have faced detention in Egypt in connection with their work. The organization reported that 26 journalists were in detention at the time of its assessment. The latest case has intensified concerns among press freedom advocates about the legal and administrative pressures facing independent media in the country.
