An Egyptian journalist employed at the independent fact-checking platform Matsadaash faces terrorism charges after authorities detained the entire newsroom last week.
Six journalists from Matsadaash, an investigative outlet whose name translates to "don't believe," were arrested by Egyptian authorities. One has been formally charged with joining a terrorist group. The whereabouts of the other five journalists remain unknown, according to rights groups calling for their release.
Authorities accused the detainees of operating without a license and publishing false news on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt has designated as a terrorist organisation. The government made these accusations in an official statement.
Rights groups have characterised the arrests as part of a broader crackdown on press freedoms in Egypt. Matsadaash operates as an independent fact-checking and investigative journalism platform.
The timing and scope of the detention, affecting the entire newsroom at once, drew criticism from press freedom advocates who view the action as targeting the outlet's editorial work.