Egyptian prosecutors have accused six reporters from independent fact-checking outlet Matsda2sh of links to the banned Muslim Brotherhood, according to their lawyer.
Attorney Nabeh al-Ganadi said the journalists face allegations including membership of a terrorist organisation, terrorism financing, spreading false information and using social media to encourage violent acts.
Matsda2sh has rejected the claims.
Five of the reporters were ordered to remain in detention for 15 days by the State Security Prosecution, while proceedings involving the sixth continued.
The arrests have sparked condemnation from international press freedom and human rights groups.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) described the detention of the platform’s newsroom as a serious escalation in Egypt’s suppression of independent media.
The organisation said Egypt remains among the world’s biggest imprisoners of journalists, with 25 media workers currently behind bars or in detention.
The six reporters were detained during raids on their homes across the country on September 28 and 29.
They were identified as Abdullah Qadry, Mohammed Ashraf Abu Emeira, Islam Barakat, Omar Helal, Mohammed Mahmoud and Mohammed Adel.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), which is providing legal representation, said authorities initially failed to disclose where the journalists were being held or explain the basis for their detention.
Egypt’s Interior Ministry later confirmed the arrests, accusing Matsda2sh of attempting to undermine national stability through misleading information.
Officials also claimed the platform lacked a licence, operated from outside the country and that its founder, Abdel Rahman Mansour, belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Mansour rejected the accusations, telling CPJ that the allegations distorted the organisation’s identity and activities. He maintained that the platform had no connection with the Brotherhood.
EIPR also alleged that several detainees told prosecutors they had been subjected to abuse at National Security Agency facilities following their arrests.
Reported mistreatment included physical assaults, forced removal of clothing, electric shocks and threats against relatives.
The Interior Ministry denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and accusing the rights group of attempting to help the suspects avoid prosecution.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong