Egypt arrests six journalists from fact-checking platform Matsada2sh

Six journalists from the fact-checking platform “Matsada2sh” were arrested in Egypt. This means that the entire editorial team is now being held, the medium announced on its Facebook page on Wednesday. So far there is no information about the location of the detention or the reasons for it, it said.

The Egyptian Initiative for Human Rights (EIPR) confirmed the arrests and condemned the repression against media workers. According to them, four of the journalists were arrested in their homes, while two others were caught on a street in the capital Cairo.

The “Matsada2sh” platform has specialized in checking information since 2018. She also repeatedly questions statements made by authorities and government organizations. The most recent publications include a fact check on statements by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty about the number of refugees in the country.

According to Sisi's office, during his visit Ratcliffe "lauded Egypt's critical role in supporting attempts to achieve peaceful and comprehensive solutions to regional crises."

The CIA chief's visit came a few days after Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Cairo. Both had called for safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Problems in the Bab al-Mandab Strait also affect Egypt because ships have to pass through the area to get to the Suez Canal from the south. Due to attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, the economically essential canal revenues have recently fallen sharply.