Egypt arrests entire editorial team of one of the country’s few independent media

NEW YORK — Egyptian authorities swept up the entire editorial team of one of the country’s few independent media, accusing them on Thursday of belonging to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

The arrest this week of the six journalists of Matsadaash (Arabic for “Don’t Believe”) sparked an outcry from international and regional rights groups who called it an “alarming escalation on independent media and freedom of expression.”

Authorities accused the six of being members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, alleging they produced fabricated news for an online outlet in exchange for foreign funding.

Matsadaash co-founder Abdelrahman Mansour denied the allegations and said he and their families have no idea where they are.

“Everyone on this team knew the risks when they went to work every day, but it’s unacceptable for the government to make false accusations and forcibly disappear journalists just because they’re afraid of a free press,” he said, speaking from outside Egypt.

“Their families are worried, we’re worried, we just want them released unharmed.”

Founded eight years ago as a fact-checking platform, it has since expanded into investigative reporting in Egypt and other Arab countries.

Mansour said two of the outlet’s editors were arrested in 2023 but were released…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business