Egyptian Court Fines Journalist Lina Attalah and Orders Closure of Mada Masr
An Egyptian court has fined journalist Lina Attalah and ordered the closure of the independent news website Mada Masr, amid notable procedural irregularities during the hearing.
During a court hearing in Egypt, after the judge appointed a lawyer for Lina Attalah and had it officially recorded despite objections, the journalist was fined and the closure of the Mada Masr news website was ordered.
During a hearing in Egypt, the judge appointed a lawyer for Lina Attalah despite her objections, had the situation recorded, and subsequently announced a fine along with the decision to close Mada Masr. Amid protests from the defense, Attalah was detained. She was released on Tuesday evening after the fine was paid.
At the time of her release, it emerged that Attalah had been sentenced in absentia to one year in prison in 2024 on charges of spreading false news and operating an unlicensed website. While her legal team is appealing the decision, the retrial hearing is scheduled for November 11. Amnesty International described the ruling as a blow to independent journalism in Egypt.
Sources
- bbc.com · Link