An Egyptian journalist has been charged with terrorism, following the detention of six journalists from the independent outlet Matsadaash, which rights groups say is a crackdown on press freedoms.
Authorities arrested six journalists from the independent fact-checking and investigative platform Matsadaash, accusing them of being unlicensed and publishing false news on behalf of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. The journalists, including Abdallah Qadri, Mohamed Ashraf, Mohamed Adel, Islam Barakat, Mohamed Mahmoud, and Omar Helal, were detained over the course of two days. On Sunday, Egyptian authorities charged Mohamed Ashraf with joining a terrorist group and spreading false news, according to a statement by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, a rights group. The interrogation lasted from 10pm to 8am and focused exclusively on material published by Matsadaash.
Ashraf was to be held for 15 days pending investigation, while the whereabouts of the other five journalists remain unknown. The arrests have drawn condemnation from over 80 rights groups, which called them a violation of press freedoms and demanded the immediate release of the journalists. The co-founder of Matsadaash, Abdelrahman Mansour, denied any association with the Muslim Brotherhood and called the arrests one of the gravest attacks on journalism in Egypt’s modern history. He stated that the journalists were doing their jobs by asking difficult questions and uncovering facts, and questioned why they had been arrested.
Why it matters
The charge may complicate the ability of independent media to operate freely in Egypt.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
Watch whether Egyptian authorities issue formal statements clarifying the legal basis for the charges.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.