Retrial of Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah adjourned amid criticism of media crackdown
Retrial of Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah adjourned amid criticism of media crackdown Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 11/11/2026 - 10:13 Mada Masr editor’s lawyers say judge has already formed a view against her after ordering the outlet’s closure in a separate case Mada Masr co-founder and editor-in-chief Lina Attalah speaks during an interview in Cairo on 8 November 2026 (Khaled Desouki/AFP)…
Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah's retrial was postponed on Wednesday, with a new hearing set for November 18, according to her outlet Mada Masr. The defense plans to argue that the presiding judge, Mohamed Mubarak, has already decided against her. Attalah faces charges of publishing false news and operating a website without a license, following a ruling in her absence in 2024.
The court also fined her three million Egyptian pounds (approximately $56,000) and ordered the closure of Mada Masr. This comes amid a broader crackdown on independent media, including the detention of journalists from fact-checking outlet Matsadaash. Mubarak's decision to remove Attalah's chosen lawyers and deliver the verdict without their input sparked criticism from US politicians and international rights organizations, who have condemned the charges as an assault on press freedoms.
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