Six Matszadás journalists placed under custody across Egypt, authorities cite criminal suspicion

Six members of the Matszadás fact-checking website have been detained in Egypt, with four arrested at their residences in Cairo, Gharbia and Port Said and two apprehended on Cairo streets. The portal reported that no details on the alleged offenses or the exact detention facilities have been provided. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights corroborated the arrests, noting the journalists are being held on suspicion of a crime.

Matszadás, operating since 2018, has frequently disputed government claims, including figures on refugees in the country. Human-rights groups regularly accuse Egyptian authorities of imprisoning dissenting voices, a charge the government rejects, insisting the arrests are lawful. According to the initiative, a total of 26 journalists are currently detained in Egypt for reasons linked to their work.