News

Mada Masr Editor-in-Chief Lina Attalah Released on Bail After Arrest Outside Tora Prison

mm
Mada Masr Editor-in-Chief Lina Attalah Released on Bail After Arrest Outside Tora Prison

Update: Attalah was released on bail by the Maadi Prosecution shortly following her arrest. She posted bail to the tune of EGP 2,000. 

Mada Masr editor-in-chief Lina Attalah was arrested earlier today outside the Tora Prison complex in Cairo, local media reports. The award-winning Egyptian journalist was reportedly conducting an interview with Laila Soueif whom sources claim had been attempting to deliver medical supplies to her son, jailed activist Alaa Abdel Fattah who has been on hunger strike for 35 days.

The arrest was made at around 12 PM, according to Mada Masr. Security forces have reportedly confiscated Attalah’s phone and denied her legal counsel. Authorities also refused to disclose the reason behind her arrest to the publication’s lawyer.

Attalah has been transferred to the Maadi police station. It was initially reported that she would remain in police custody then referred to prosecution on Monday for questioning, however shortly after, the reporter was released on bail, according to Mada Masr.

This comes amid what activists are calling an unprecedented crackdown on press freedom and freedom of expression in Egypt. In 2017, Mada Masr was among 60 websites that were blocked for allegedly “supporting terrorism and extremism and spreading fake news.”

Last November, police raided the Mada Masr office, confiscated the staff’s phones and laptops and briefly detained Attalah and a number of the publication’s journalists, including Shady Zalat. The arrests were believed to be in connection to an investigative report by Zalat about President Sisi’s son.

'We Are Entering A Battle, And We Need A Shield to Protect Us': One Doctor's Reflection Story
Egypt's Partial Curfew Starts from 5 PM During Eid: PM

Subscribe to our newsletter


News
mm
@NiveenIshmael

Niveen Ghoneim is a Cairo-based writer, researcher and journalist. Her work has been published in Cairo Scene, Scene Arabia, Startup Scene, Scene Noise and Safareya. She has helped launch two regional magazines and coedited two of Egypt's most popular digital publications. Her reporting is largely focused on issues of social justice, cultural representation and documenting human rights violations.

More in News

Egyptian Officer and 3 Israeli Soldiers Dead After Border Gunfire Incident

Shereif Barakat3 June 2023

Pyramids, Citadel, and Other Tourist Spots Stop Accepting Cash Payments for Tickets

Omar Auf3 June 2023

Egyptian FM Flies to Turkey for President Erdogan’s Inauguration

Shereif Barakat3 June 2023

Egyptian Sandstorm Tragically Kills 1, Injures 5

Nadia Salem2 June 2023

Smoking in Egypt is Now 0.5 Percent Less Prevalent Than in 2020

Omar Auf1 June 2023

Egyptian Law Change Allows Foreign Nationals to Apply for Citizenship

Egyptian Streets1 June 2023

Egyptian Prime Minister Welcomes Palestinian Delegation to Discuss Areas of Cooperation

Nadia Salem30 May 2023

Sisi Congratulates Erdogan on Election Win, Egypt and Turkey to Restore Diplomatic Ties

Farah Rafik30 May 2023