Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah detained after court orders news site's closure
Summary
An Egyptian court convicted Mada Masr editor-in-chief Lina Attalah of operating an unlicensed website, fined her 3 million Egyptian pounds and ordered the independent news outlet closed. Her lawyers said she was taken into custody until she pays the fine. Rights groups criticized the verdict amid wider pressure on journalists in Egypt.Key Facts
- The New Cairo Misdemeanours Court imposed the maximum penalty for the charge, according to the article.
- Attalah had rejected the charge of operating a website without a licence.
- Mada Masr has sought an operating licence from Egypt’s Supreme Media Regulatory Council since a 2018 media law took effect; its applications were rejected or left unanswered, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.
- Prosecutors had summoned Attalah for questioning over allegations of publishing false news and running an unlicensed website, and she was later released on bail before trial.
- The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights said the judge cleared the courtroom, denied defence requests and appointed a lawyer over Attalah’s objection.
- Amnesty International described the verdict as a blow to press freedom and said Attalah had faced years of harassment and intimidation.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists said 25 journalists were behind bars in Egypt.
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