The IPI global network calls on Egyptian authorities to drop its latest round of spurious charges against Mada Masr editor Lina Attalah and cease its harassment of the outlet, which was a past recipient of the IPI-IMS Free Media Pioneer award.
On August 2, Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of Egyptian independent news outlet Mada Masr, was summoned to the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) headquarters in New Cairo in relation to an unspecified investigation. When she arrived for questioning on August 4, authorities accused her of “running an unlicensed website and publishing false news in order to undermine stability,” and interrogated her about a recent Mada Masr report on the mistreatment of prisoners held at Egypt’s Badr 3 Prison. Attalah was released later that day after posting bail of 30,000 Egyptian pounds (about 530 euros).
Mada Masr’s website license applications to Egypt’s Supreme Media Regulatory Council (SMRC) have routinely been met with rejections, delays, and unclear directives from regulators.
According to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, this latest incident is the fifth investigation Attalah and other Mada Masr journalists have faced in five years. In February 2024, Attalah faced a similar pattern of charges and questioning following a Mada Masr report about Egypt possibly preparing to accept Palestinian refugees fleeing Israel’s bombing. In May 2020, authorities arrested Attalah while she was interviewing the mother of a jailed human rights activist outside the prison her son was being held in, later releasing her on bail.
“The cycle of intimidation and harassment perpetuated by Egyptian authorities against Lina Attalah and Mada Masr must end,” IPI Director of Advocacy Amy Brouillette said. “This latest round of targeting is in clear retaliation for Mada Masr’s critical reporting about issues the Egyptian government finds uncomfortable. Punishing journalists for doing their jobs must not be tolerated. The IPI global network stands by Lina and the brave team at Mada Masr.”
Mada Masr, which won the 2019 IPI-IMS Free Media Pioneer award, is a rare beacon of freedom in Egypt’s restrictive information landscape. As one of Egypt’s few remaining independent media outlets, Mada Masr continues to challenge the narratives espoused by Egypt’s predominately state-controlled media, providing fearless coverage of topics considered off-limits by the government.