Egypt orders closure of leading independent news site Mada Masr
Summary
An Egyptian court ordered Mada Masr, a prominent independent news outlet, closed and fined editor-in-chief Lina Attalah three million Egyptian pounds for operating a website without a licence. Attalah was briefly detained and released after the outlet paid the fine; she is also challenging a separate 2024 conviction. The ruling followed disputes over Mada Masr’s licence applications and the court’s handling of its defence.Key Facts
- The New Cairo Misdemeanour Court ordered the outlet closed and its equipment and devices confiscated.
- The court fined Lina Attalah three million Egyptian pounds, about $53,400.
- Attalah was taken into custody after the ruling and released several hours later after Mada Masr paid the fine.
- Attalah learned during her release procedures that she had been sentenced in absentia in 2024 to one year in prison for publishing false news and operating an unlicensed website.
- Mada Masr said its lawyers have challenged the 2024 ruling, with a retrial hearing scheduled for November 11.
- Mada Masr said it applied for a licence in 2018 and 2020 and that a new application has been pending since June 2023.
- The outlet said the court rejected defence requests and appointed a lawyer despite Attalah's objection.
- Egypt's journalists' union said it would take legal action to appeal the ruling.
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