Egyptian Authorities Detain Mada Masr Editor Lina Attalah Following Court-Ordered Closure
Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah was detained after a court fined her three million pounds and ordered the closure of independent news outlet Mada Masr.
POLICY WIRE — Cairo, Egypt — Egyptian security forces took prominent journalist Lina Attalah into custody on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, immediately following a trial hearing. Attalah, who serves as the editor-in-chief of the independent news website Mada Masr, remains held at the courthouse.
The court issued a ruling imposing a fine of three million Egyptian pounds—approximately $53,400—against Attalah for operating the news site without a license. This penalty represents the maximum fine for the misdemeanor charge, and the judge further ordered the permanent closure of Mada Masr, an outlet that reports it has received no response from officials regarding its license application since 2023.
Hossam Bahgat, leader of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), described a chaotic scene in the courtroom. After the judge cleared the room of everyone except the defendant and her legal team, security officers entered to remove Attalah. Bahgat noted that the judge appointed a lawyer from the Lawyers’ Syndicate against Attalah’s explicit objections and proceeded to dictate motions on behalf of that attorney, who had not spoken during the proceedings.
This legal action marks the sixth case brought against Attalah and her publication in six years, though it is the first to reach a trial phase. Rights organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, have condemned the ruling as an outrageous escalation in the government’s campaign against independent media.
The detention occurs amid a broader crackdown on journalism in Egypt, where the EIPR reports that 26 journalists are currently held for their professional work. Earlier this month, six staff members from the fact-checking platform Matsadaash were arrested on terrorism-related charges, which they and their representatives have denied.
Attalah’s defense team is currently working to secure her release on bail. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from international observers who view the move as a systematic effort to dismantle independent reporting within the country.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
