The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), acting through the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, have issued a joint statement condemning the conviction of Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of Mada Masr. The coalition also denounced the court’s directive to shut down the news outlet, describing it as one of Egypt’s last remaining independent media platforms. This action marks the latest escalation in a systematic campaign against independent journalism in the country.
On 28 October 2026, the New Cairo Misdemeanor Court convicted Attalah of managing an unlicensed website. The judge imposed the maximum penalty allowed under the law: a fine of 3 million Egyptian pounds, approximately 48,000 Euros. In addition to the financial penalty, the court ordered the closure of the Mada Masr website and the confiscation of its digital devices and equipment. Attalah was taken into custody immediately following the ruling inside the courthouse premises. She remained detained for seven hours before being released.
During her release procedures, Attalah learned of a separate in absentia conviction issued against her in 2024. That earlier judgment sentenced her to one year in prison on charges of disseminating false news and operating a website without a license. Her legal team has filed an objection to this prior judgment, with a hearing scheduled for 11 November to review the case.
Reports from the recent trial highlight serious procedural violations. Journalists were excluded from the courtroom during critical stages of the proceedings. The defense was denied adequate time to review the case file and was prevented from presenting key procedural requests, including motions to submit documents and hear witnesses. Furthermore, the court appointed a lawyer for Attalah despite her explicit objections and the presence of her eight-member legal team. The verdict was announced regardless of these irregularities.
Mada Masr’s legal team plans to appeal the ruling and pursue all available legal avenues to overturn the decision. The crackdown began in late September with the arrest of six journalists from the investigative platform Matsadaash. Some detainees reported being tortured and forced to record fabricated confessions. The campaign has since expanded to include summonses for journalist Rasha Azab and a coordinated defamation campaign targeting the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate.
The coalition called on Egyptian authorities to grant licenses to independent outlets without discrimination and to end the use of media law provisions to criminalize journalism. They demanded an immediate halt to intimidation campaigns against journalists and the unconditional release of 25 journalists currently held in custody. The statement was signed by dozens of organizations, including Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19, and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
