New York – The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) to revoke its six-month ban on the independent news website Mada Masr.
The website was banned over its reporting on the deadly Israel-Gaza conflict and to reverse its decision to refer the outlet for prosecution.
On Sunday, the SCMR announced that, after conducting a hearing with Mada Masr’s editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah, it would block the news website for six months for “practicing media activities without a license” and “publishing false news without checking its sources,”.
The SCMR also said it would refer the outlet to the prosecutor general’s office.
However, Mada’s website was still accessible outside of Egypt.
“By banning Mada Masr’s website and referring the news outlet to the prosecutor general’s office, the Egyptian government has once again demonstrated its shameful dedication to targeting independent media and criminalising press freedom in the country,” CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour, in Washington, D.C., said on Tuesday.
“Authorities must cease harassing media outlets and journalists who are doing crucial work covering the Israel-Gaza war and its regional implications.”
On October 15, the SCMR announced an investigation into Mada Masr following multiple complaints that the outlet had published “inflammatory reports that undermine Egypt’s national security”.
The SCMR referred to an 11 October 2023 report by Mada Masr, which speculated that Egypt was preparing to accept Palestinian refugees fleeing Israeli’s attack on Gaza.
The report was based on interviews with five anonymous high-ranking Egyptian political and diplomatic sources.
A few days later, on 15 October 2023, Mada Masr posted a statement on its Facebook page, acknowledging that “a number of our readers sent us feedback about a report we published” and that it had decided to change the headline, as the original “leaves room for interpretations that diverge from its content.”
The Egyptian government has a history of harassing independent media outlets.
At least three Mada Masr journalists are for misusing social media and offending members of parliament.
The CPJ said it had emailed the SCMR for comment but did not receive any response.
