Egyptian Court Orders Mada Masr Shut, Editor Detained in Press Freedom Crackdown

An Egyptian court has ordered the closure of Mada Masr, one of the country's last independent news websites, and detained its editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah, according to the outlet. The ruling, which cites operating without a license, is seen by press freedom advocates as part of a widening crackdown on dissent under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Mada Masr has faced repeated legal pressure since its founding in 2013, but this is the first time a judge has ordered the site shut. The decision follows the arrest of several journalists and activists in recent months, raising concerns about the future of independent media in Egypt. Attalah, a prominent figure in Arab journalism, was taken into custody after the ruling. The closure of Mada Masr would leave few independent sources of news in a country where most media are state-aligned. Rights groups warn that silencing such outlets further erodes public access to critical reporting on economic and political issues.