Egyptian court orders one of the country's last independent news sites shut and detains its editor for seven hours

The court also ordered the confiscation of the outlet's assets and equipment, while closing Egypt's most prominent platform for investigating corruption and military abuses. Mada Masr's lawyers say they will appeal the closure order.

Amnesty International called the verdict "a crushing blow to press freedom" and warned that Egypt was sending a "clear and ruthless message: critical, independent reporting will not be tolerated."

The proceedings were condemned as "farcical" by rights groups, with journalists barred from the courtroom during key stages and the defence prevented from presenting witnesses or documents.

Attalah's lawyers discovered during her release paperwork that she had been sentenced in absentia in 2024 to a separate year in prison for spreading false news — a conviction she also intends to challenge.