The closure of Mada Masr and the imposition of a heavy fine on its editor-in-chief have heightened concerns regarding press freedom in Egypt, where independent journalists are facing mounting judicial pressure.
On Tuesday, October 27, Egyptian authorities ordered the closure of Mada Masr – one of the country’s leading independent media outlets – and the confiscation of its equipment, citing its operation “without a license.”
At the same time, its co-founder and editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah, was ordered to pay a fine of approximately 49,000 euros following a summary trial that consisted of only a single hearing.
This decision comes amid an intensifying crackdown on investigative media and voices critical of the government.
After being questioned for six hours by State Security prosecutors on October 21, Lina Attalah was referred to court the very next day.
According to her lawyers, the court rejected their requests to access the case file and to present further evidence.
The journalist was also assigned a court-appointed lawyer, despite her objections.
This marks the sixth legal action brought against her and Mada Masr in six years – though none of the previous instances had resulted in a trial.
Founded in 2013 and blocked in Egypt since 2017, Mada Masr has established itself as a prominent investigative outlet, regularly publishing reports on politically sensitive topics.
In an editorial released following the court’s decision, the publication’s staff denounced the proceedings, stating that the experience had profoundly shaken their confidence in the judicial system.
Lina Attalah’s release on Tuesday does not, however, put an end to her legal troubles: she learned that a one-year prison sentence had been handed down against her in absentia in 2024 for disseminating “false information” and operating a website without a license. Her lawyer has announced an appeal, with a hearing scheduled for November 11.
Human rights organisations have reacted strongly. Amnesty International condemned the decision, describing it as a severe blow to press freedom. Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, believes that these legal proceedings signal a shift from judicial harassment to a strategy aimed at eliminating independent media.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has also raised the alarm regarding the growing insecurity faced by journalists, who work outside of media outlets aligned with the authorities.
This case comes just weeks after the arrest of six journalists from the investigative media outlet ‘Matsadaash’ on September 28 and 29, on allegations of spreading false information and having supposed ties to the Muslim Brotherhood – an organisation banned in Egypt. Such accusations are frequently levelled against media outlets perceived as critical of the government.
MK/AK/fss/gik/APA