The International Press Institute (IPI) condemns the arrest of six Egyptian journalists who make up the entire editorial team of the investigative outlet Matsadaash, and the terrorism charges brought against them. IPI calls for their immediate release and urges Egyptian authorities to stop using national security laws against the press.
Authorities the six journalists, Abdallah Qadri, Mohamed Ashraf, Mohamed Adel, Islam Barakat, Mohamed Mahmoud, and Omar Helal, on September 28 and 29, 2026. Officers also seized their phones and computers.聽
Authorities did not immediately disclose why they had arrested the journalists.
On October 1, Egypt鈥檚 Interior Ministry acknowledged the detentions and Matsadaash of affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt banned in 2013. The ministry also claimed the outlet was unlicensed and run from abroad to spread 鈥渇alse news鈥� on behalf of the group.聽聽
Egyptian authorities have frequently levelled such accusations against journalists in retaliation for critical reporting.聽
Matsadaash co-founder Abdelrahman Mansour has repeatedly denied the allegations. In a social media post responding to the ministry, the outlet each of the government鈥檚 claims point by point, and restated its editorial standards.聽
Nabeh al-Ganadi, the lead lawyer representing the journalists, said on October 6 that all six had been charged with belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood and were accused of joining a terrorist group, funding terrorism, publishing false news, and using social media to call for acts of terrorism.
Lawyers for the detained journalists said the six appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on October 4. Several of the security officers had tortured them, interrogated them for hours, and forced them to record confessions from statements the officers supplied.聽
鈥淧utting an entire newsroom behind bars is an alarming escalation of President el-Sisi鈥檚 crackdown on press freedom in Egypt,鈥� IPI Director of Advocacy Amy Brouillette said. 鈥淭his is a blatant attempt to censor Matsadaash鈥檚 vital public interest reporting 鈥� increasingly at risk in Egypt. IPI demands their immediate release and an end to the use of national security laws against the press.鈥�
Also on October 4, another Egyptian journalist, Rasha Azab, said she had to appear before the Supreme State Security Prosecution for unspecified reasons. A long-standing defender of freedom of expression in Egypt, she had the six Matsadaash journalists after their arrest.聽
The arrests came days before the U.S. State Department it would waive human rights conditions on $320 million in military aid to Egypt.聽
They also come weeks ahead of , a national event organised by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to highlight his government鈥檚 achievements and launch an 鈥渋nteractive dialogue鈥� on public policy and development priorities.聽
Launched , Matsadaash is one of Egypt鈥檚 few remaining independent outlets. It publishes investigative reports and fact-checks Egypt鈥檚 predominantly state-controlled media, often on topics the government considers politically sensitive.聽
In August 2023, authorities a Matsadaash journalist after the outlet reported on arrests in Zambia of several Egyptian nationals 鈥� including security officials 鈥� whose private plane was found to be carrying cash and weapons. Authorities the journalist several days later.