Egypt orders closure of independent news site Mada Masr, fines editor $53,400

An Egyptian court has ordered the closure of Mada Masr, one of the country's last prominent independent news websites, according to DW English and Al Jazeera English.

The court convicted Mada Masr's editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah, of operating the site without a license and imposed a fine of 3 million Egyptian pounds, approximately $53,400, the maximum penalty for the offense.

Attalah was briefly detained following the verdict but was released after Mada Masr paid the fine. During her release, she learned of a one-year prison sentence passed in absentia in 2024 on charges including publishing false news and running an unlicensed website, with a retrial scheduled for November 11.

The court also ordered the confiscation of Mada Masr's equipment and devices. The ruling came after the court rejected the defense's requests to review the case file, submit additional evidence, or call witnesses. The judge appointed a new lawyer to represent Attalah despite objections from her defense team.

Rights groups have condemned the ruling as a significant blow to press freedom in Egypt, where independent media outlets face increasing pressure. Mada Masr is known for its investigative reporting on corruption, human rights abuses, and the military's role in the country.