{
  "id": 16861270,
  "title": "Egypt releases prominent journalist from custody",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/egypt-releases-prominent-journalist-from-custody",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T06:54:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/egypt-releases-prominent-journalist-from-custody/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Egyptian authorities released independent journalist Lina Attalah from custody on Tuesday, hours after her detention and a court order to shut down her website, Mada Masr. According to the New Straits Times, Attalah's lawyer, Hassan al-Azhari, stated she was released after paying a fine of three million Egyptian pounds (approximately $53,400). This fine was issued for operating Mada Masr without a license, which Punch and Le Monde English also noted.\n\nThe New Straits Times reported that during the process, the defense discovered Attalah had been sentenced in absentia in 2024 to one year in prison and a fine of 20,000 Egyptian pounds. Her defense team has appealed that sentence, with a new court hearing scheduled for November 11. Mada Masr stated it has not received a response from authorities regarding its license application since 2023.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Egypt detains prominent journalist Lina Attalah after trial",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/egypt-detains-prominent-journalist-lina-attalah-after-trial",
        "published": "2026-10-27T14:43:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah detained after court orders news site's closure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/egyptian-journalist-lina-attalah-detained-after-court-orders-news",
        "published": "2026-10-27T16:11:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Egypt releases prominent journalist Lina Attalah from custody",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/egypt-releases-prominent-journalist-lina-attalah-from-custody-16815023",
        "published": "2026-10-27T23:24:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Egypt releases prominent journalist Lina Attalah from custody",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/egypt-releases-prominent-journalist-lina-attalah-from-custody",
        "published": "2026-10-27T23:29:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}