Egyptian police arrest all six journalists of investigative outlet
Egyptian police arrested six journalists from a fact-checking and investigative media outlet, accusing them of spreading misinformation on behalf of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, which the publication denied.
Six journalists from the investigative outlet Matsaddash were arrested by Egyptian police on Monday evening, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). The police accused the journalists of spreading misinformation on behalf of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, a claim denied by Matsaddash. The arrests resulted in the total shutdown of the digital platform's newsroom, which had been operating since 2018.
The interior ministry stated that Matsaddash was managed from abroad as part of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood's media apparatus with the help of Brotherhood elements inside the country. However, Matsaddash refuted these allegations, pointing to reports of correcting misinformation published by Brotherhood-affiliated media outlets.
The Muslim Brotherhood was declared a terrorist group in Egypt in 2013, following the military coup that overthrew democratically elected President Mohamed Mursi, a Brotherhood member. Egyptian journalists and media outlets have frequently faced charges of spreading false news and rumors, and many struggle to operate under restrictive conditions.
As of now, 19 journalists are reportedly detained in Egypt. The State Information Service, which liaises with foreign media, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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