UN rights office voices alarm on Egypt press freedom

The ​United Nations human rights ​office voiced alarm ‌on Tuesday ​about Egyptian authorities' widening assaults on press freedom ‌and called for the immediate release of detained journalists. Egyptian police arrested the entire newsroom of fact-checking outlet ‌Matsaddash in September, accusing the six journalists ‌of spreading misinformation for the banned Muslim Brotherhood, which the publication denied.

And last month, an Egyptian court ⁠convicted ​the editor-in-chief of ⁠leading independent news website Mada Masr of running it ⁠without a licence and ordered the site ​closed. "These alarming developments must end immediately, and journalists ⁠must be able to carry out their essential ⁠work ​free from intimidation and reprisals," said Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the Office of the ⁠High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk.

"Authorities must release ⁠all ⁠Matsaddash reporters and drop charges arising from their legitimate journalistic work," ‌he added.