Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate Seeks Release of Six Detained Matsadaash Journalists

Egypt’s Supreme State Security Prosecution has ordered six journalists from the Matsadaash platform to be held in pretrial detention for 15 days.

The Journalists Syndicate has called for their release and said its council would remain in continuous session over the case.

According to lawyers who attended the questioning, the journalists face accusations of managing a social media page with the aim of “stirring up the Egyptian street and creating a revolutionary climate.”

The accusations also concern the use of technological tools and the recruitment of people to work on the platform’s activities, the lawyers said.

Other allegations include spreading false news and joining a terrorist group. The detention order places the journalists in custody pending investigation; it is not a conviction.