--- title: "Egyptian authorities charge journalist with joining terrorist group" url: https://noti.group/egyptian-authorities-charge-journalist-with-joining-terrorist-group/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "World News" published: 2026-10-04T15:16:03.000Z updated: 2026-10-04T16:37:45.410Z id: 13e6bba5-8ff0-4cb3-afde-1f4aa6c871b5 source: "The Guardian World https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/04/egyptian-journalist-faces-terrorism-charges-entire-newsroom-detained-matsadaash-press-freedom" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/egyptian-authorities-charge-journalist-with-joining-terrorist-group/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Egyptian authorities charge journalist with joining terrorist group Egyptian authorities have charged a journalist from independent news outlet Matsadaash with joining a terrorist group and spreading false information. This development comes after six staff members from the platform were detained last week by security forces on charges of being unlicensed and publishing fake news on behalf of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. The journalists, who are known for their fact-checking and investigative work, were arrested over two days. Authorities accused them of spreading false information on behalf of a banned organization, but rights groups have criticized the move as an attempt to crack down on press freedoms in Egypt. The charges against Matsadaash staff have sparked concerns about the government's treatment of independent media outlets. Abdallah Qadri, one of the journalists still being held by authorities, was scheduled to appear before a court this week but his whereabouts are now unknown. Five other staff members, Mohamed Ashraf, Mohamed Adel, Islam Barakat, Mohamed Mahmoud and Omar Helal, have also been detained, with their locations remaining undisclosed. Mohamed Ashraf's interrogation lasted 10 hours, from 10pm to 8am, and focused exclusively on material published by Matsadaash. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights has reported that Ashraf was charged with joining a terrorist group and spreading false news, and will be held in detention for 15 days pending further investigation. Egyptian authorities have accused the co-founder of Matsadaash, a news platform, of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational movement designated as a terrorist organisation in 2013. The claim is being met with strong denial from Abdelrahman Mansour, who asserts that his team's work has been focused on investigative journalism and reporting on issues affecting ordinary people. Mansour expressed outrage at the treatment of his colleagues, stating that their primary function as journalists is to ask tough questions, uncover facts, and hold those in power accountable. He emphasized that instead of receiving recognition for their efforts, the six staff members were subjected to home raids and taken into custody. The government has yet to provide a clear explanation for the arrests. The Egyptian State Information Service was contacted by this publication for comment on the matter but did not respond prior to publication. In the absence of official clarification, questions about the motives behind the arrests continue to swirl. Dozens of journalists have gathered outside the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate in Cairo, staging a sit-in protest to demand the release of their detained colleagues from Matsadaash. The gathering is expected to remain open-ended until the staff members are freed, with an emergency meeting scheduled for Monday by the syndicate to discuss the situation further. The Egyptian Journalists Syndicate has submitted an appeal to the Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecutor to release the detained journalists from Matsadaash news organization. Over 80 human rights groups have joined forces to condemn the arrests as a blatant infringement on press freedom. Organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists have demanded the immediate release of all staff members held in custody. They have expressed deep concern over the implications of these actions for Egypt's democratic institutions. The US government had previously waived its human rights conditions for $320m in military aid to Egypt, citing Cairo's cooperation on national security matters following the recent conflict with Iran. This decision has been met with criticism from those who argue that it undermines efforts to promote democracy and respect for human rights. The annual allocation of $1.3bn in US aid to Egypt typically includes a portion contingent upon meeting specific human rights and democratic standards. However, this year's waiver of all conditions has raised questions about the potential consequences for Egypt's press freedom and rule of law. The recent waiver of human rights conditions by the US has raised concerns about its impact on Egypt's press freedom and rule of law. Egypt has a long history of facing criticism for its human rights abuses, with many accusing its security forces of engaging in extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations without consequences. The country's ranking on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index is a dismal 169th out of 180 countries, highlighting the severe restrictions on freedom of the press. The situation for journalists in Egypt is particularly dire, with over two dozen currently held in prison according to the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate. This is not an isolated incident, as civil liberties have been severely curtailed since President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi took power following a coup that ousted Morsi. Domestic political opposition has also been violently suppressed. The implications of this year's waiver on Egypt's human rights record and press freedom are unclear, but it is likely to embolden the government's repressive tendencies further. --- Source: [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/04/egyptian-journalist-faces-terrorism-charges-entire-newsroom-detained-matsadaash-press-freedom) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/egyptian-authorities-charge-journalist-with-joining-terrorist-group/