The arrests occurred between September 28 and 29 and targeted the entire Matsadaash newsroom, including Mohamed Ashraf Abu Emeira, Abdallah Qadry, Islam Barakat, Omar Helal, Mohamed Mahmoud, and Mohamed Adel. Egyptian police accused the outlet of links to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. More than 54 civil society organizations and members of the US Egypt Human Rights Caucus, including Representatives Don Beyer and Suzan DelBene, have called for the immediate release of the journalists.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Matsadaash Journalists Report Torture After Arrest of Entire Newsroom
World16 days ago
Six investigative reporters in Egypt told prosecutors they were blindfolded and subjected to electric shocks after being detained in raids on their homes. During an interrogation that lasted over 10 hours on Sunday, the staff of Matsadaash reported that National Security Agency officials used beatings, forced stripping, and threats against their families to coerce fabricated confessions on camera, according to defense lawyers from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights and the Journalists Syndicate.
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