Responding to the news that the New Cairo Misdemeanours court today convicted editor in chief Lina Attalah on charges of operating an unlicenced website, ordering the shutdown of prominent independent outlet Mada Masr and taking her into police custody pending payment of the maximum penalty of three million EGP fine (54,467 USD) Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Regional Impact, Yasmine Ahmed, said:

Today’s decision represents a crushing blow to press freedom in Egypt and marks a dark day for independent journalism in the country.

Yasmine Ahmed, Amnesty International

“Today’s decision represents a crushing blow to press freedom in Egypt and marks a dark day for independent journalism in the country.…