Court in Egypt strikes at freedom of speech. Last independent media outlet shut down

Lina Attalah was fined $53,400 by a court and must remain in custody until the amount is paid. Although the fine was settled shortly after the ruling, her whereabouts are unknown. Mada Masr, the outlet she leads, is one of the last independent media in Egypt, facing ongoing repression since 2017, including website blocking and unaddressed accreditation requests. Human Rights Watch condemned Attalah's trial as an escalation of repression against independent media. Amnesty International and 118 other organizations urged Egyptian authorities to cease actions against Mada Masr and grant it accreditation. Attalah's lawyer announced plans to appeal the verdict. Egypt ranks 169th globally in media freedom, with 26 journalists currently imprisoned for their work.