20 February 2024

The Cairo Appeals Prosecution decided to release journalist Lina Attalla, editor-in-chief of the Mada Masr website, on bail of 5,000 pounds, pending investigations in Case No. 22 of 2023, the Appeals Prosecution.

The prosecution accused Attalla of spreading false news and using a website without a license.

Investigations into the case began last November after a report was filed by the Supreme Media Council against the website, after publication a report that dealt with scenarios for the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

At that time, the prosecution postponed the investigations into Attalla for an unspecific time, before summoning her again a few days ago, after the website published a report on businessman Ibrahim Al-Arjani’s control over the coordination of exit from the Rafah crossing and the entry of aid into Gaza.

Mada Masr had applied for a website license twice, in October 2018 and in August 2020. Still, she did not receive a response from the Supreme Media Council, which is responsible for issuing permits.

Last May, the Administrative Court rejected Mada Masr’s appeal against the decision of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation to refuse to license the website despite fulfilling the licensing conditions and applying for it more than four years ago.