Joint Statement
Thursday, October 29, 2026
The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in South West Asia and North Africa (WHRDMENA) and the undersigned groups and organizations followed with grave concern and strong condemnation the summons of Lina Attalah, woman human rights defender (WHRD) and editor-in-chief of Mada Masr (an independent news website) for questioning by the New Cairo Misdemeanor Court and the imposition of the maximum penalty—a fine of 3 million Egyptian pounds (equivalent to 54,000 US dollars)—as well as the closure of the Mada Masr website on the grounds of “operating an unlicensed website” and the confiscation of its equipment and tools (1). She was also detained for approximately 7 hours in the court’s “detention center” (a holding facility for those on trial), where she and her lawyer discovered, prior to her release, that there was a verdict rendered in absentia in another case dating back to 2024—a one-year prison sentence based on charges of operating an unlicensed website and publishing false news (2).
The shutdown of the independent news website Mada Masr is a devastating loss for the field of journalism, for the fact-finding work it carries out, and for civil society—not only in Egypt but also regionally and internationally—and cannot be compensated for in any way. Furthermore, the imposition of this maximum sentence is unprecedented and signals a fierce crackdown on Egyptian civil society and the press, with no way to predict what judicial tools will be employed to achieve this.
The verdict against Attalah and Mada Masr cannot be viewed in isolation from the recent “Egypt 2026 Forum,” which was held a few days ago as an attempt to justify the government’s failures and respond to the criticism it faces due to economic and social conditions. The forum featured a discussion with attendees on Egypt’s economic and geopolitical situation and development, presented through statistics, with attendees including the regime and the Egyptian government, political parties, and civil society groups “friendly” to the regime and the Egyptian government. The unjust verdict against Attalah and Mada Masr sends a very clear message: the rejection and punishment of any independent voices that criticize the government’s performance based on factual evidence, and the Egyptian authorities’ usurpation of this role to control Egyptian public opinion amid the dire economic situation that has persisted for several years.
The verdict handed down against Attalah also raises serious concerns about the escalating crackdown on women human rights defenders and independent journalists, through the imposition of the maximum penalties prescribed by law for their journalistic work, and the accompanying violations of the right to a defense and fair trial guarantees. These concerns are compounded by the fact that Atallah was not allowed to meet with her lawyers during her detention, and a public defender was appointed to represent her despite her having retained eight lawyers to represent her legally, thereby infringing on her right to choose her own defense counsel.
The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in South West Asia and North Africa (WHRDMENA), along with the undersigned groups and organizations, demand the revocation of the decision to shut down Mada Masr, the lifting of the punishment imposed on its editor-in-chief, an end to her ongoing prosecution, and the opening of the public sphere to independent journalism rather than its monopolization by the authorities. The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders, along with the signatory groups and organizations, also demands that Attalah be acquitted of the in absentia verdict handed down against her in 2024, the first hearing for which will be held after her lawyers filed an objection to the relevant decision and verdict.
We extend our deepest respect and appreciation to Lina Attalah, WHRD, independent journalist, and Mada Masr. We will not stand idly by; rather, we will fight to ensure that Attalah and Mada Masr can continue their work and exercise their constitutional and legal rights.
Signatories:
- The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in South West Asia and North Africa (WHRDMENA)
- ElNadeem Center for the Treatment and Psychological Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence
- Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (CEWLA)
- Syrian Female Journalists Network
