Egyptian journalists plan a weekend protest in Cairo after six colleagues from the independent fact-checking platform Matsadaash were charged with terrorism offences, according to The Guardian.
Egyptian authorities arrested the six journalists last week. Officials accused them of operating without a license, producing false news and working for the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt has designated as outlawed. The arrested staff members allege they experienced torture in police detention and were coerced into making confessions, The Guardian reports.
Matsadaash is described as an independent fact-checking and investigative platform. The arrests mark an escalation in pressure on Egypt's independent media and follow a pattern of detention of journalists on charges related to unlicensed operation and alleged ties to opposition groups.
The planned weekend protest represents a public response from Egypt's journalism community to what they view as state suppression of press freedom. The charges against the six journalists carry serious implications in Egypt's legal framework, where terrorism designations can result in lengthy sentences.
The arrests occurred amid Egypt's broader crackdown on dissent and independent media. The country has faced repeated criticism from international press freedom organizations over detention of journalists and restrictions on reporting.