World · Africa · 1 hr ago
Egyptian court orders independent news site Mada Masr shut
A Cairo court ordered Mada Masr shut on Tuesday after convicting its editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah, of operating the news site without a licence.
Attalah was fined 3 million Egyptian pounds and taken into custody pending bail, while the court also ordered the site’s equipment confiscated.
Founded in 2013, Mada Masr is a prominent independent Egyptian outlet that reports on politically sensitive issues in a media landscape mostly dominated by state-owned or state-affiliated outlets.
The site has been blocked inside Egypt since 2017, and it says it has repeatedly sought a licence but has not received a response to its latest application.
Rights groups and media outlets called the case an attack on press freedom; Egyptian authorities say media must follow the law, respect national security and counter misinformation.
Mada Masr says it will challenge the licensing decision, but the sources do not say what comes next in the court case.
An Egyptian court ordered independent news outlet Mada Masr closed after convicting its editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah, of operating a website without a licence.
Attalah was fined 3 million Egyptian pounds and taken into custody pending payment, her lawyers said.
Mada Masr said the court also ordered its equipment confiscated.
The outlet says it repeatedly sought an operating licence but received no response to its latest application.
Press freedom groups and other rights organisations condemned the case, while Egyptian authorities say media must follow the law and respect national security.
- Who
- Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, and the news outlet.
- What
- A court convicted Attalah of operating a website without a licence, fined her 3 million Egyptian pounds and ordered Mada Masr closed.
- When
- Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
- Where
- New Cairo, Egypt.
- Why
- The court found Attalah guilty of operating a website without a licence. Mada Masr says its licence applications were repeatedly rejected or left unanswered.
Press freedom groups and Mada Masr
Egyptian authorities
Legality of the case
Press freedom groups and Mada Masr
Rights groups called the case an attack on press freedom and said Mada Masr had repeatedly sought a licence.
Egyptian authorities
Authorities say media must operate within the law, respect national security and counter misinformation.
Effect on journalism
Press freedom groups and Mada Masr
Rights groups say the ruling threatens independent journalism and called for it to be overturned.
Egyptian authorities
The media regulator says it facilitates procedures for outlets that meet official requirements and is keen to promote freedom of expression.
Mada Masr was founded.
Mada Masr was blocked inside Egypt.
A new media law was passed, and Mada Masr says it began repeatedly seeking an operating licence.
Mada Masr says its latest licence application had been awaiting a response since this year.
A New Cairo court convicted Attalah, fined her and ordered the outlet closed.
- Fine
- 3 million Egyptian pounds
- Court
- New Cairo Misdemeanours Court
- Outlet founded
- 2013
- Mada Masr licence applications
- Repeatedly sought since 2018
- Latest licence application
- Awaiting a response since 2023
3 sources
What people are saying
a crushing blow to press freedom
a dark day for independent journalism
journalism is not a crime
This draconian ruling is the culmination of years of relentless harassment and unjust proceedings designed to shut down one of the country's last remaining independent media voices