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Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Cairo-based online newspaper Mada Masr, talks during an interview in Cairo on Nov. 8, 2026. (Credit: Khaled Desouki/AFP) Add as preferred on Google Prominent Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah, the head of independent media outlet Mada Masr, is set to appear in a criminal court on Wednesday, facing possible prison time in a trial that has drawn international outcry.Attalah is being retried after she was handed a one-year prison sentence in absentia in 2024, without her knowledge, for operating a news website without a licence and "publishing false news" — a charge commonly leveled against journalists and dissidents in Egypt.The United Nations on Tuesday criticized what it called Egypt's "widening assaults on press freedom," including the "targeting, prosecution and harassment of independent journalists."Atallah was only informed of the in absentia sentence last month, upon her release from detention after a rushed misdemeanor trial in a separate... You have reached your article limit.Stay informed as events unfold across a region in flux.Subscribe for $0.5/month for the first 3 months. Subscribe now Log in This article is only available to L’Orient Today subscribers. Subscribe now Log in Create a free account to continue reading this article. You’ll also receive The Morning Brief, our must-read daily digest of Middle East news. Opt out anytime Email Address Password Email Address Password I would like to receive special offers from L'Orient Today as well as selections of the best articles. Register By creating an account, you agree to the terms and conditions of use and our privacy policy. Register Or register with: Facebook
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