Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the independent Egyptian news outlet Mada Masr, faces a court-ordered closure of her organization following a conviction for operating without a government license. The legal ruling, handed down last week, imposes a fine of 3 million Egyptian pounds—exceeding $54,000—and follows a period of escalating pressure on independent media within Egypt, MERIP reported.
The judicial action follows the prosecution of Mada Masr and editor in chief Lina Attalah by Egyptian authorities. Despite repeated, documented efforts by the outlet to secure the necessary state licensing, the government has consistently denied their applications. The recent verdict also included a brief term of imprisonment for Attalah, who had been subjected to a six-hour interrogation by authorities on October 21.
A Pattern of Media Repression
The prosecution of Mada Masr is part of a broader crackdown on independent journalism in the country. The legal offensive intensified following the arrest of staff members from the independent fact-checking platform Matsadaash in late September. The state’s move against these organizations has drawn significant international pushback from civil society groups and media watchdogs.
According to MERIP, the organization’s Board of Directors has joined more than 100 civil society organizations and media outlets in signing two formal letters condemning the government’s prosecution of Mada Masr and its leadership. These letters serve as a unified stance against what supporters describe as a systematic effort to dismantle independent reporting in Egypt.
The Future of Mada Masr
Attalah has used recent public appearances, including a special edition of the MERIP Roundtable podcast, to outline the history of Mada Masr and the political environment that has led to the current legal crisis. She discussed the ongoing efforts by regional and international supporters to provide legal and organizational backing for both Mada Masr and Matsadaash as they challenge the prosecution. During the broadcast, James Ryan and Hesham Sallam spoke with her about the wider climate of repression impacting the nation’s independent media landscape.
The legal status of the outlet remains in a state of flux as the court order to cease operations stands. As part of its organizational strategy, MERIP has launched a fall campaign seeking 250 new monthly donors, a milestone the organization says would allow it to bring the Middle East Report back into print by 2028.
More on Mada Masr
Mada Masr Editor-in-Chief Lina Attalah was released following several hours in custody after the New Cairo Misdemeanor Court convicted her on the charge of managing a website without a license during the first hearing in the session this morning. The court imposed the maximum… pic.twitter.com/qCoSgjbyC6
Mada Masr Editor-in-Chief Lina Attalah was fined LE3 million by the New Cairo Misdemeanor Court, which convicted her on charges of managing an unlicensed website, issuing an order for the website’s closure. Attalah was taken into custody after the issue of the ruling. Tuesday’s… pic.twitter.com/8pfj1RTghc
