Egyptian Court Shuts Independent News Outlet and Detains Editor

An Egyptian court ordered the closure of news outlet Mada Masr and detained its editor Lina Attalah.

An Egyptian tribunal has convicted journalist Lina Attalah of publishing without a licence, ordering the immediate closure of the independent news organisation Mada Masr. Attalah was taken into custody following the verdict while awaiting bail arrangements. Human rights groups described the legal action as a severe blow to press freedom in the country.

• The verdictA court convicted editor-in-chief Lina Attalah on charges of running the news platform without an official license.
• Detention statusSecurity forces took Attalah into custody immediately after the decision while bail was being arranged.
• International reactionAdvocates including Amnesty International denounced the ruling as a crushing blow to independent journalism in Egypt.