Egyptian journalist arrested as crackdown on independent media continues
James Rothwell, The Telegraph•May 18, 2020
Lina Attalah, a leading journalist in Egypt, was arrested - AP
Egypt briefly detained and fined one of the country's dwindling number of independent journalists on Sunday as the nation mounts a crackdown on the media and political dissent.
Lina Attalah, the editor of the investigative news website Mada Masr, was arrested outside of Tora prison in Cairo, where she was interviewing the mother of a jailed activist.
Ms Attalah's lawyer says she was accused of filming a "military complex" - referring to the prison - without permission.
She was fined 2,000 Egyptian pounds (£104) and eventually released from custody late on Sunday.
It was unclear on Monday whether she faces further charges, as the Egyptian authorities have not elaborated further on the reasons behind her arrest.
The government of Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi's has repeatedly targeted Mada Masr and its journalists.
In November, security forces raided its offices, briefly detaining Ms Attalah and two other journalists.
The raid came just a day after security forces arrested one of its editors, Shady Zalat, from his home in Cairo. Mr Zalat was later released.
Amnesty International, which recently published a report warning that journalism has in effect been outlawed by Egypt, called Ms Attalah's detention a "shocking development."
Egypt briefly detained and fined one of the country's dwindling number of independent journalists on Sunday as the nation mounts a crackdown on the media and political dissent.
Lina Attalah, the editor of the investigative news website Mada Masr, was arrested outside of Tora prison in Cairo, where she was interviewing the mother of a jailed activist.
Ms Attalah's lawyer says she was accused of filming a "military complex" - referring to the prison - without permission.
She was fined 2,000 Egyptian pounds (£104) and eventually released from custody late on Sunday.
It was unclear on Monday whether she faces further charges, as the Egyptian authorities have not elaborated further on the reasons behind her arrest.
The government of Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi's has repeatedly targeted Mada Masr and its journalists.
In November, security forces raided its offices, briefly detaining Ms Attalah and two other journalists.
The raid came just a day after security forces arrested one of its editors, Shady Zalat, from his home in Cairo. Mr Zalat was later released.
Amnesty International, which recently published a report warning that journalism has in effect been outlawed by Egypt, called Ms Attalah's detention a "shocking development."
AL JAZZERA REPORTER REMAINS JAILED IN EGYPT ON TRUMPED UP CHARGES OF AIDING TERRORISTS FOR INTERVIEWING THE FORMER MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD LEADER WHO WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF EGYPT.
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