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The prosecution of Mada Masr editor-in-chief Lina Attalah has exposed a broader crisis facing Egypt’s independent press: licensing applications remain pending for years, while outlets that continue operating risk prosecution, fines and closure, raising questions about selective enforcement of the law and the transparency of licensing decisions.
In a country ranked 169th out of 180 on the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index for 2026, the events of recent weeks, from the dispute over a proposed body for news websites to arrests, a summons and the continued detention of journalists, have brought back to the fore the question of how much space remains for journalism and the limits of union protection.
Despite dredging campaigns, rotation schedules and a national canal upgrade, farmers at the ends of the network keep waiting for water. Athar follows its journey through Fayoum, Beheira and Giza to find where it stalls.