Egypt court fines journalist Attalah, orders Mada Masr closure

· Politics · Egypt

An Egyptian court fined journalist Lina Attalah and ordered the closure of the independent news site Mada Masr. Attalah was freed once a $53,400 fine was paid, only to learn of a one-year sentence passed in her absence. Amnesty International called the verdict "a crushing blow to press freedom".

Why it matters:The verdict is a test of Egypt's shrinking space for independent media and adds to concerns about press freedom in the region.

Key points

  • The court fined Lina Attalah and ordered Mada Masr closed.
  • She paid a $53,400 fine and was released.
  • A one-year sentence was passed in her absence.

Sources (original reporting)

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