Egyptian Court Convicts Mada Masr Editor Lina Attalah and Orders Outlet Closed

An Egyptian court convicted Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the independent news outlet Mada Masr, of managing an unlicensed website, meaning one without an operating licence. It ordered the outlet closed and its equipment confiscated. Her lawyers said she was taken into custody after the ruling. Amnesty International called the decision a crushing blow to press freedom in Egypt.