Egyptian authorities should drop their case against Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the independent media outlet Mada Masr, ahead of her October 27, 2026 hearing, Human Rights Watch said today.
The Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) referred Attalah for trial on October 22 in Case No. 9072/2026 on charges of establishing and managing a website without a license. The referral came the day after prosecutors questioned her over the outlet's reporting. She faces a fine of up to 3 million Egyptian pounds (about US$53,400) as well as the closure of Mada Masr and confiscation of its equipment.
"The hasty prosecution of Lina Attalah marks another escalation in Egyptian authorities' outrageous attack on independent media in the country," said Bassam Khawaja, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "No journalist should face criminal prosecution for doing their job."
On October 19, prosecutors summoned Attalah for questioning. On October 21, they questioned Attalah over allegations of publishing "false news" and operating a website without a license, then released her on bail of 100,000 Egyptian pounds (about $1,780). The following day, prosecutors referred her for trial on charges of operating the website without a license. According to Mada Masr, this is the sixth case brought against the outlet or its journalists in the past six years.
Egypt's 2018 Press and Media Regulation Law
