World
Egypt shuts down Mada Masr news site as crackdown on media grows
An Egyptian court has ordered the closure of Mada Masr, one of the country's last independent news outlets, sparking fresh criticism from U.S. lawmakers.
The logo and office sign of Mada Masr, an independent news outlet in Egypt.
By John Doe
Reporting from Egypt 
Oct. 31, 2026, 3:03 a.m. - 7 hours ago
A court in Egypt has ordered the closure of Mada Masr. This is one of the very last news websites in the country that isn't controlled by the government. The court also hit Lina Attalah, a well-known editor there, with a heavy fine.
Mada Masr has been known for reporting on tough topics that other papers in Egypt avoid. Because they dig into stories the government would rather keep quiet, they have faced constant legal trouble for years.
This move has upset people in the United States. Many U.S. lawmakers are speaking out against how Egypt is treating journalists.
One U.S. senator said that the U.S. government is partly to blame. They believe that by continuing to send military aid to Egypt, the U.S. is not doing enough to stop these attacks on free speech.
Critics say this shutdown is part of a larger plan by the Egyptian government to silence anyone who asks questions or reports the news honestly. For now, the future of Mada Masr remains very uncertain as the pressure on independent voices in the region continues to climb.
Source: BBC
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