An Egyptian journalist from the independent platform Matsadaash has been charged with joining a terrorist group, days after authorities detained the entire six-person newsroom, according to The Guardian.
Last week, security forces arrested all six journalists working at Matsadaash, an independent fact-checking and investigative outlet. The name translates to "don't believe" in Arabic. Authorities accused the journalists of operating without a license and publishing false news on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt classifies as an outlawed organization.
One journalist has now been formally charged with membership in a terrorist group. The whereabouts of the other five detainees remain unknown, The Guardian reports.
Rights groups have characterized the arrests as part of a broader crackdown on press freedoms in Egypt. Calls for the release of all six Matsadaash staff members have intensified since the charges emerged.
The case reflects ongoing tensions between Egypt's government and independent media outlets. Matsadaash operates as a fact-checking platform focused on investigative reporting, a function that has drawn scrutiny from authorities in recent years. The accusation that the journalists were unlicensed and spreading false information represents a common charge leveled against outlets critical of the government.
The detention of an entire newsroom is rare even by standards in countries with restricted press environments. The simultaneity of the arrests and the subsequent terrorism charge against one staff member suggest a coordinated government action rather than individual prosecutions.