World News
Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah's retrial postponed amid UN criticism of press freedom
A Cairo court postponed the retrial until November 18 after defence lawyers requested a new judge, as the UN raised due process concerns.
The short version
- A Cairo court postponed the retrial of Mada Masr head Lina Attalah until November 18 after defence lawyers requested a new judge.[France 24 · BBC News]
- Attalah faces retrial on charges of operating without a licence and publishing false news, following a 2024 in absentia sentence.[France 24]
- A UN human rights spokesman said the prosecution raises fresh due process and fair trial concerns, and the UN criticised widening press freedom assaults.[France 24]
- The next step is the hearing on November 18, and the case outcome is not yet known.[BBC News]
Key facts
- Attalah, head of independent outlet Mada Masr, faces a criminal court retrial on charges of operating without a licence and publishing false news.[France 24]
- Attalah was sentenced in absentia to one year in prison in 2024.[France 24]
- Attalah was fined three million Egyptian pounds in a separate misdemeanour case.[France 24]
- A Cairo court postponed the retrial until November 18 after defence lawyers requested a new judge.[BBC News]
- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' spokesman said the prosecution raises fresh due process and fair trial concerns.[France 24]
- Reporters Without Borders ranks Egypt 169th out of 180 countries for press freedom in its 2026 analysis.[BBC News]
- Reporters Without Borders says at least 26 journalists arrested in recent years remain in detention.[BBC News]
- Six journalists from the fact-checking platform Matsda2sh were arrested in September and have been charged with joining the Muslim Brotherhood and financing terrorism.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.