Egypt intensifies crackdown on independent press
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Cpj
Egyptian authorities detained the six journalists from Matsadaash, referred Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, for trial and summoned Rasha Azab. The procedures illustrate an intensification of the crackdown on independent media, with journalists reporting allegations of torture, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Egyptian authorities detained the six journalists from investigative and fact-checking platform Matsadaash, referred Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of independent outlet Mada Masr, for trial, and summoned independent journalist Rasha Azab within the space of a month, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Matsadaash journalists were arrested in late September and held for several days in secret locations before being brought before the State Security Prosecution. They then reported violence, including beatings and electric shocks that they described as torture, as well as fabricated confessions they were allegedly forced to record, the CPJ reported.
Rasha Azab was questioned about social media posts and Lina Attalah about a Mada Masr article on protests in Egyptian prisons. Both were released on bail, but Lina Attalah was referred to a court. Nora Younis, editor-in-chief of independent outlet Al-Manassa, told the CPJ that independent journalism in Egypt now faced an “existential threat”.
