The Electronic Frontier Foundation warned that independent digital media faces severe threats in Egypt as Mada Masr founder Lina Attalah faces a second trial in November 2026. The proceedings follow a prior conviction and court-ordered closure.
Legal Action Against Mada Masr
Lina Attalah, founder and editor-in-chief of independent Egyptian news outlet Mada Masr, faces trial on November 11 on charges of spreading false news. The upcoming proceeding follows an October 27 conviction for managing an unlicensed news website after repeated attempts to obtain a license went unacknowledged.
The court sentenced Attalah to a fine of 3 million Egyptian pounds, forcibly removed her from the courtroom, and held her until the fine was paid. The court also ordered Mada Masr's closure and the confiscation of all organizational equipment.
Targeting of Fact-Checkers and Digital Media
According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the recent wave of repression also targeted Matsada2sh, a fact-checking and open-source intelligence initiative. Its entire six-person newsroom was arrested, detained, and interrogated under torture before being charged with terrorism-related offenses and spreading false news.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that at least 25 other journalists are currently incarcerated in Egypt. The Electronic Frontier Foundation stated that governments increasingly rely on legal harassment, financial pressure, and licensing regimes to control information and restrict independent publishing.
Key facts and where they come from
- Lina Attalah faces trial for the second time in two weeks on November 11.
On November 11, Lina Attalah, founder and editor-in-chief of the independent Egyptian news outlet Mada Masr, will face trial for the second time in just two weeks.
- The court ordered the closure of Mada Masr and the confiscation of its equipment.
The court also ordered Mada Masr's closure and the confiscation of all equipment belonging to the organization.
