Mada Masr editor-in-chief Lina Atallah reveals to DW the details of the case that threatens her with imprisonment

After a court ruling was issued to close the Mada Masr website, fined its editor-in-chief Lina Atallah, and was also sentenced to one year in prison, the Egyptian journalist is facing trial in a similar case. On Wednesday (November 11), a court in Cairo postponed consideration of a case against Atallah, editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, one of the few independent news platforms, to consider the defense team’s request for the court’s response, according to the website.

The trial of Atallah, one of the most prominent independent female journalists in Egypt, sparked international condemnation and condemnation from organizations concerned with freedom of the media and human rights groups, which considered it a dangerous escalation in the security campaign against press freedom in the country.

Atallah is subject to a retrial after she was sentenced in absentia to one year in prison, without her knowledge, in 2024, on charges of running a news website without a license and “spreading false news,” a charge often directed against journalists and dissidents in Egypt.

The United Nations calls on the Egyptian authorities to stop their “harassment” of journalists and media outlets. “We are witnessing an escalation in attacks on press freedom by the Egyptian authorities, including the targeting, persecution and harassment of independent journalists,” UN Human Rights Office spokesman Thameen Al-Khitan told reporters in Geneva.

Egypt has long been criticized for its human rights record, as it closed almost all opposition outlets for more than a decade.

To comment on these developments, Deutsche Welle conducted the following interview with Lina Atallah:

Deutsche Welle: Why is the Egyptian government tightening its grip on independent media at the moment?

Lina Atallah: Recently, the Egyptian authorities have made no secret of their growing impatience with the work of independent media. While the government is making great efforts to deal with numerous political and economic challenges - especially in light of the surrounding regional conflicts and economic crises we are facing - independent media seems to be the main problem.

Simply put, do not support the government in its efforts. We heard statements to this effect, followed a few days later by lawsuits filed against us, as well as the arrest of the entire editorial staff of another site; His six journalists are still in prison today. It seems, then, that we are going through a phase where there is no longer room for tolerance for independent media.

So, your case is not an isolated case. Do you think there is a coordinated attempt to silence independent journalism in Egypt?

I think there is a declared impatience with the few of us who are still doing our work. I do not see that there is a disconnect between these events: the imprisonment of six young journalists in the Mada Masr newsroom, the judicial case that ordered the closure of the platform, and another case that threatens me personally with imprisonment. I do not consider these matters to be separate from each other.

Egyptian authorities often justify these measures as part of the fight against misleading or false information. What is your response to this proposal?

My response is that removing our websites, media, and reporting from the public sphere will, in effect, create a fertile space for misinformation, speculation, and rumours to spread.

We represent one of the very few newsrooms that provides Egyptians - and those interested in Egypt and the region - with accurate and in-depth reports on a variety of issues, reports based on facts and analysis. When this kind of journalistic work that seeks to connect with people is eliminated, you effectively leave them at the mercy of an unregulated online space, full of misinformation, fake news, and the like. So, it's actually quite the opposite. I think what is happening represents a threat in this regard.

A spokesperson for the United Nations Human Rights Office said today that these disturbing developments must stop immediately. Is there anyone listening to the United Nations within the Egyptian government?

I hope someone is listening. I have always expressed my hope that there is enough wisdom to realize that these spaces do not pose a threat. In fact, our spaces are a factor of stability in society, thanks to the reliable information we provide. It takes prudence and wisdom to realize that our place is not in courtrooms or prisons, but in journalistic newsrooms.

You were personally sentenced to one year in prison in absentia. What are the charges against you, and what is your response to them?

The charge, again, is spreading fake news. This is a typical accusation that many journalists face - and it is not limited to journalists only, but also includes people who express their opinions, even through social media - when what they publish does not align with the prevailing narrative.

In response, I say: First, I uphold my constitutional right not to be imprisoned for my journalistic work. Secondly, the journalistic work we do is essentially the opposite of fake news. For more than 13 years, our platform has had a history of providing Egyptians with strong and sober reporting on various issues. So, this should not be a charge we face now.

Translated into Arabic: F.Y