Egypt\u2019s Supreme State Security Prosecution referred Lina Atallah, editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, to trial on Thursday, 22 October 2026, on a charge of establishing, managing and operating the website without a licence from the Supreme Council for Media Regulation. Her trial begins on Tuesday, 27 October, at the New Cairo Court in the Fifth Settlement.<\/p>\n
The case is registered as No. 11743 of 2026, Fifth Settlement Misdemeanours, and No. 9072 of 2026, Supreme State Security. The charge concerns an alleged violation of Law No. 180 of 2018 regulating the press, media and the Supreme Council for Media Regulation.<\/p>\n
As reported<\/a> by Mada Masr, its lawyer Hassan al-Azhari said the trial referral concerns the licensing charge only. The false-news allegation raised during Wednesday\u2019s questioning was not included in the referral. He criticised the rapid referral and hearing date, less than a week away, saying there was no justification for rushing the case.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, the prosecution ordered Atallah\u2019s release on EGP 100,000 bail after more than six hours of questioning. The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression said<\/a> the investigation involved allegations of publishing false news and statements inside and outside Egypt, and operating an unlicensed website, over a report on prison protests following the postponement of the Criminal Procedure Law.<\/p>\n Mada Masr\u2019s latest licence application has been pending since June 2023, according to its lawyer.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Al-Azhari said the outlet submitted the application after supplying documents and information the regulator said were missing, during its appeal against the licence refusal. He said no response had arrived.<\/p>\n\n