What happened
Six journalists who make up the entire newsroom of the Egyptian fact-checking website Matsadash remain in detention, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) said in Geneva on Tuesday 10 November. It warned of “widening assaults on press freedom” by the Egyptian authorities.
“These alarming developments must end immediately, and journalists must be able to carry out their essential work free from intimidation and reprisals,” said spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan.
The detained journalists
The six are Mohamed Ashraf Abu Emeira, Abdallah Qadry, Islam Barakat, Omar Helal, Mohamed Mahmoud and Mohamed Adel. According to their lawyers, they were tortured and otherwise ill-treated and forced to record fabricated confessions.
OHCHR asks the authorities to release them and drop the charges arising from their journalistic work. Until then, it says they must have confidential access to lawyers, contact with their families, healthcare and humane conditions of detention. “All allegations of torture, ill-treatment or forced confessions must be promptly investigated, and those responsible held to account,” Mr. Al-Kheetan said.
Mada Masr’s editor also targeted
Lina Attalah, chief editor of the independent news site Mada Masr, faces continuing judicial harassment, according to OHCHR. Last month, a court convicted her of operating an unlicensed website; she was detained, then released after paying a fine, and the court ordered the site closed. This week she faces another hearing in a separate case dating back to 2024.
OHCHR called for the measures taken against Matsadash and Mada Masr to be overturned. “The people of Egypt have a right to read and hear views expressed through these fora on issues of legitimate public concern,” it said.
What remains to be confirmed
This article relies on a single source, UN News. The allegations of torture come from the journalists’ lawyers, and the source does not include a response from the Egyptian authorities.
