An Egyptian journalist has been charged with joining a terrorist group just days after the entire newsroom of the independent fact-checking and investigative platform Matsadaash was detained. Rights groups have described this as part of a broader crackdown on press freedoms in the country.
Arrests of Matsadaash Journalists
Last week, authorities arrested six journalists from Matsadaash, which translates to "don't believe," accusing them of being unlicensed and publishing false news on behalf of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. The arrested journalists include:
- Abdallah Qadri
- Mohamed Ashraf
- Mohamed Adel
- Islam Barakat
- Mohamed Mahmoud
- Omar Helal
The arrests occurred over two days, with Ashraf being charged on Sunday with joining a terrorist group and spreading false news. This information was confirmed by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, a non-governmental organization. The interrogation of Ashraf reportedly lasted from 10 PM to 8 AM and focused solely on the material published by Matsadaash. He is to be held for 15 days pending investigation, while the whereabouts of the other five journalists remain unknown.
Response from Matsadaash Co-founder
Abdelrahman Mansour, the co-founder of Matsadaash, has denied any association with the Muslim Brotherhood, which was designated a terrorist organization by Egypt in 2013 following the ousting of former president Mohamed Morsi. Mansour described the arrests as "one of the gravest attacks on journalism in Egypt’s modern history," stating:
“"My colleagues were doing what journalists should do: asking difficult questions, uncovering facts, and reporting on issues that affect people’s lives. They deserve recognition for their work. Instead, their homes were raided, and all six were taken away."
