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Egyptian journalists from fact-checking website Matsda2sh face terrorism charges
Overview
Egyptian prosecutors have charged six journalists from the independent fact-checking platform Matsda2sh with terrorism-related offences, including belonging to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, funding terrorism, and publishing false news. The arrests, which took place during raids on 28 and 29 September, have been condemned by international human rights and press freedom organisations. Five of the journalists have been remanded in custody for 15 days, while allegations of torture during detention have been raised by their legal representation and denied by the Egyptian interior ministry.
Key points
- Six journalists from the independent Egyptian fact-checking platform Matsda2sh have been charged with terrorism-related offences and publishing fake news.
- The State Security Prosecution remanded five of the journalists in custody for 15 days, with the sixth remaining under interrogation.
- Matsda2sh and its founder have denied any affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood, stating the accusations misrepresent their work.
- Human rights groups and the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the arrests as a grave escalation against independent journalism.
- Detained journalists testified that they were subjected to torture, including beatings and electric shocks, at National Security Agency facilities, which the interior ministry denied.