Egypt: Journalist Lina Attalah, director of the independent media "Mada Masr", released after paying a fine

Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah, director of Mada Masr, was released after a swift trial and a hefty fine for operating without a license. A Cairo court ordered the closure of the website and imposed a fine of three million Egyptian pounds. Security forces surrounded her after the hearing. Attalah's lawyer revealed that she faces another conviction for spreading false information. Amnesty International condemned the ruling as a severe blow to press freedom in Egypt, highlighting ongoing harassment against independent media. This incident follows the arrest of journalists from another platform, Matsadaash, accused of spreading false information. Currently, 26 journalists are detained in Egypt for their work.