5 November 2026
UN experts today expressed
concern over the arrest, enforced disappearance and
detention by Egyptian authorities of six journalists who
constitute the entire newsroom of the Matsadaash media
platform, signalling yet another setback for civic space
that is already shrinking in the country.
“We are
deeply concerned by reports of enforced disappearances being
used to repress and intimidate journalists engaged in
legitimate professional duties in Egypt and call for their
immediate release,” the experts said.
On 28 and 29
September 2026, the entire newsroom crew of the independent,
investigative media platform, Matsadaash – Mohamed Ashraf,
Abdallah Qadry, Islam Barakat, Omar Helal, Mohamed Adel and
Mohamed Mahmoud – were allegedly arrested and forcibly
disappeared for five days by Egyptian security forces. On 1
October, the Egyptian Ministry of Interior confirmed the
arrest of the journalists on Facebook, but failed to
disclose their fate and whereabouts. The journalists have
allegedly been denied access to lawyers.
“Enforced
disappearances produce serious harm and consequences for the
disappeared and their families. They also make it impossible
to seek protection and exercise any rights, since the
disappeared person is placed outside the protection of the
law,” they said.
The experts noted that during their
disappearance, the journalists were allegedly interrogated
and subjected to torture and cruel treatment by
authorities.
“The torture and ill-treatment of these
journalists is an egregious example of a severe and
relentless crackdown on independent voices,” they
said.
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The journalists have been charged with
terrorism-related offences, which carry the death penalty,
despite failing to meet the most serious crimes threshold
under international law.
The experts raised concern
about the transnational repression of journalist and founder
of Matsadaash, Abdelrahman Mansour, who currently lives
outside Egypt. Mansour has reportedly faced threats, a smear
campaign and violations of his privacy after the Ministry of
Interior publicly labelled him a ‘fugitive’ operator.
They recalled that transnational
repression poses serious risks to human rights, civic
space, independent journalism and public participation
across borders.
“The prosecution of the Matsadaash
newsroom and the threats directed at Mansour are not
isolated incidents, but reflective of a widespread and
escalating practice of the unlawful detention of journalists
in Egypt,” the experts said.
“The continued use of
vague and overly broad counter-terrorism provisions to
prosecute journalists is incompatible with international
human rights law and has a chilling effect on the exercise
of freedom of opinion and expression.”
They recalled
Egypt’s obligations under international human rights law
to protect freedom of opinion and expression, uphold the
right to participate in public affairs and ensure space for
diverse opinions and interpretations in the public
sphere.
The experts have previously raised their
concerns on the situation for journalists and media in
Egypt.
“We reiterate our appeals
to the Egyptian authorities to refrain from misusing
counter-terrorism legislation to restrict the exercise of
the rights to freedom of opinion and expression,” they
said. “Due process must be guaranteed to all detained
journalists, including the Matsadaash newsroom
crew.”
