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Egypt's security forces raid online newspaper's office in Cairo Egypt's security forces raid online newspaper's office in Cairo
(32 minutes later)
Mada Masr is one of few remaining independent outlets amid ongoing clampdown on press freedom Mada Masr is one of few remaining independent outlets amid clampdown on media freedom
Egyptian security officials have raided the offices of one of the country’s few remaining independent media outlets, and what has been described as the last bastion of press freedom in the country. Egyptian security officials have raided the offices of one of the country’s few remaining independent media outlets and what has been described as the last bastion of press freedom in the country.
“Plainclothes security forces have raided Mada Masr’s office in Cairo,” the outlet said on Twitter. “Staff are currently being held inside, and their phones have been switched off.”“Plainclothes security forces have raided Mada Masr’s office in Cairo,” the outlet said on Twitter. “Staff are currently being held inside, and their phones have been switched off.”
Security forces left 3.5 hours later after detaining at least three staff members including the editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah. Security forces left three and a half hours later after detaining at least three staff members including the editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah.
One American and one British staff member were taken to get their passports, amid concerns they may be deported. They were later released.One American and one British staff member were taken to get their passports, amid concerns they may be deported. They were later released.
The raid on Mada Masr’s offices followed the arrest of one of their editors in a raid on his home a day earlier.The raid on Mada Masr’s offices followed the arrest of one of their editors in a raid on his home a day earlier.
Shady Zalat, an employee at the outlet since 2014, was released from detention onto an outlying Cairo road an hour after the raid ended. Shady Zalat, an employee since 2014, was released from detention on a road on the outskirts of Cairo an hour after the raid ended.
“Lina Attalah knew yesterday that Shady’s arrest was a litmus test to see if [the authorities] could get away with this,” said political science professor Rabab Al Mahdi. Madhi had gathered with others outside Mada Masr’s offices while the police held the staff inside and prevented the publication’s lawyers from entering. “Lina Attalah knew yesterday that Shady’s arrest was a litmus test to see if [the authorities] could get away with this,” said Rabab Al Mahdi, a political science professor. Madhi had gathered with others outside Mada Masr’s offices while police held the staff inside and prevented the publication’s lawyers from entering.
Mada Masr is the lone surviving outlet of a prolonged crackdown on independent and critical media in Egypt, and has won multiple awards. It continued to publish critical and even investigative journalism in an environment where media independent of the state have been progressively extinguished. At one point it was forced to distribute articles via Facebook after its website was blocked in Egypt two years ago.Mada Masr is the lone surviving outlet of a prolonged crackdown on independent and critical media in Egypt, and has won multiple awards. It continued to publish critical and even investigative journalism in an environment where media independent of the state have been progressively extinguished. At one point it was forced to distribute articles via Facebook after its website was blocked in Egypt two years ago.
“If you don’t want propaganda, Mada is the only place,” said Mahdi. “As an Egyptian citizen, this is the last kind of this service we have in this country.”“If you don’t want propaganda, Mada is the only place,” said Mahdi. “As an Egyptian citizen, this is the last kind of this service we have in this country.”
Since coming to power in a military coup in 2013, Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has overseen a sweeping and punitive clampdown on free expression, detaining and trialling journalists amid growing control of the country’s media by the country’s military and security forces. Since coming to power in a military coup in 2013, the Egyptian president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, has overseen a sweeping and punitive clampdown on free expression, detaining journalists and putting them on trial as the country’s military and security forces tightened their grip on the country’s media.
At least 25 journalists were detained in 2018 according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Reporters Without Borders refers to the country as “one of the world’s biggest prisons for journalists,” ranking it 163rd out of 180 countries worldwide in terms of press freedom. At least 25 journalists were detained in 2018, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Reporters Without Borders refers to the country as “one of the world’s biggest prisons for journalists”, ranking it 163rd out of 180 countries worldwide in terms of press freedom.
The country has multiple laws criminalising “fake news,” and its parliament is currently debating a law that would imprison those convicted of “spreading rumours”. The country has multiple laws criminalising “fake news,” and its parliament is debating a law that would imprison those convicted of “spreading rumours”.
Mada Masr’s importance only grew as the media environment around it deteriorated. News outlets forced reliance on pre-written text sent to them by government officials has become so widespread in Egypt that it became the subject of a grim viral moment earlier this year when a news anchor read out the words “sent from a Samsung device,” at the end of an item on the death of the country’s former president, Mohamed Morsi. Mada Masr’s importance only grew as the media environment around it deteriorated. News outlets forced reliance on pre-written text sent to them by government officials has become so widespread in Egypt that it became the subject of a grim viral moment earlier this year when a news anchor read out the words “sent from a Samsung device” at the end of an item on the death of the country’s former president, Mohamed Morsi.
A spate of anti-government protests in September triggered a fresh crackdown in Egypt. At least 4,427 people were arrested according to the Cairo-based organisation the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, while Egypt’s public prosecutor said that 1,000 were arrested. The wave of arrests included journalist Esraa Abdel Fattah, who was tortured in detention and accused of a range of charges including spreading false news and abuse of social media. A spate of anti-government protests in September triggered a fresh crackdown in Egypt. At least 4,427 people were arrested, according to the Cairo-based organisation the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, while Egypt’s public prosecutor said 1,000 were arrested. The wave of arrests included the journalist Esraa Abdel Fattah, who was tortured in detention and accused of charges including spreading false news and abuse of social media.