An Egyptian journalist has been charged with joining a terrorist group, following the detention of an entire newsroom last week, according to The Guardian.
Authorities arrested six journalists from Matsadaash, an independent fact-checking and investigative platform whose name translates to "don't believe," according to The Guardian. The outlet reported that police accused the journalists of operating without a license and publishing false news on behalf of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
One of the six journalists has now been formally charged with joining a terrorist group, The Guardian reported. The whereabouts of the other five detainees remain unknown, according to The Guardian.
Rights groups have characterized the arrests as part of a broader crackdown on press freedoms in Egypt, The Guardian reported. Calls have emerged for the release of the Matsadaash staff members.
The arrests follow a pattern of tension between Egyptian authorities and independent media outlets. Matsadaash operates as a fact-checking organization focused on investigative journalism. The government's statement linking the journalists to the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt designated as a terrorist organization, carries serious legal consequences under Egyptian law.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about press freedom in Egypt. Independent journalists and news organizations have faced repeated legal challenges and detentions. The arrest of an entire newsroom raises questions about the scope of government restrictions on media operations.
No additional details about the charges, the specific allegations against individual journalists, or timelines for legal proceedings were provided in The Guardian's report.