The Egyptian Public Prosecution has issued a statement regarding the investigations into six journalists working for the social media platform "Matsaddqsh", which is allegedly linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. According to the prosecution, the platform is one of the media outlets used by the Brotherhood to spread rumors and false news. The journalists were arrested after a tip-off from the National Security Sector, which had been monitoring the platform's activities.
The investigations revealed that the platform was run by Brotherhood members from outside Egypt, with some of its employees based inside the country. One of the arrested journalists is a member of the Egyptian Journalists' Syndicate. The prosecution has obtained evidence that the platform's administrators had been in contact with Brotherhood leaders abroad, who had instructed them to spread false news and rumors to discredit state institutions and officials.
The journalist who was questioned first admitted to being part of the Brotherhood's media committee and working on the "Matsaddqsh" platform. He also admitted to receiving regular funding from a company owned by a Brotherhood member abroad. The prosecution found evidence of this funding, as well as messages exchanged between the journalist and the Brotherhood member.
The other journalists denied being part of the Brotherhood, but admitted to working on the platform and receiving regular payments in US dollars. One of them admitted to having previously been a member of the Brotherhood but claimed to have left the organization before joining the platform.
The prosecution's investigations also found that the platform's goal was to highlight the country's internal problems and amplify them to create discontent among citizens. The journalists were accused of spreading false news and rumors to discredit state institutions and officials.
The Egyptian Journalists' Syndicate has expressed concern over the arrests and the prosecution's actions. The syndicate's president, Khaled El-Balshy, stated that the syndicate would closely follow the investigations and ensure that the journalists' rights are protected.
The prosecution has ordered the journalists to be detained for 15 days pending further investigations. Three of the journalists claimed to have been subjected to physical abuse during their arrest, but a medical examination found no evidence of injuries.
Key points
- The Egyptian Public Prosecution has launched an investigation into six journalists linked to the Muslim Brotherhood's social media platform "Matsaddqsh".
- The journalists were accused of spreading false news and rumors to discredit state institutions and officials.
- The prosecution has ordered the journalists to be detained for 15 days pending further investigations.
