Egyptian journalists stage sit-in demanding release of detained Matsda2sh staff

On Saturday, a group of journalists held a symbolic sit-in inside the Journalists Syndicate to call for the release of six Matsda2sh staff members whose whereabouts are still unknown after security forces launched an arrest operation on Monday. Although the demonstration was supposed to conclude at 5 pm, several syndicate assembly members announced they would remain inside, keeping the protest open-ended. Syndicate president Khaled al-Balshy reported that the Supreme State Security Prosecution has not yet initiated any formal investigation of the detained journalists.

This was corroborated by Hossam Bahgat of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, who said the prosecution head rejected a report that the journalists would be detained for 15 days. Matsda2sh labeled the crackdown a "grave event" in Egyptian journalism and alleged a parallel smear campaign accusing its members of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Interior Ministry disclosed the names of the six journalists—Abdallah Qadry, Mohamed Ashraf Abu Emaira, Islam Barakat, Mohamed Mahmoud, Mohamed Adel and Omar Helal—while their lawyers have filed notifications to attend upcoming interrogations, though none have been formally presented before the prosecution.