CPJ MENA

The Middle East and North Africa Program @pressfreedom.
لجنة حماية الصحفيين - الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا
کمیته حمایت از روزنامه‌نگاران

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

In a statement published on Tuesday, @AMEJA condemned Israel's killing of journalists in #Gaza, #Lebanon and across the region, and called on news organizations not to repeat the claims in the Israel Defense Forces' newly released "Press Files" without independent verification.

"The IDF declares that 'the evidence is finally out,' but that evidence is already disputed by independent press-freedom researchers. It also conflicts with @pressfreedom own case-by-case research, which has repeatedly found Israeli allegations against slain journalists unsupported by sufficient or reliable evidence."

Read more ⤵️
https://t.co/5eDUYkS56g

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

“CPJ strongly condemns the escalating attacks on journalists in the occupied West Bank. On Tuesday an Israeli settler assaulted @AFP photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh near Nablus, leaving him unconscious, and destroying his equipment. That same day, the Israeli military detained and obstructed journalists Mohammad Atiq and Mohammad Abed, near Jenin. #Israel authorities must stop harassing Palestinian journalists, and hold violent Israeli settlers who harm members of the press accountable.”

— Sara Qudah, MENA Regional Director

#NotATarget

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

"CPJ is appalled by the testimony from Matsadaash journalists before the Supreme State Security Prosecution that they were subjected to beatings, forced stripping, electric shocks, and threats to harm them or their families, and were forced to record fabricated 'confessions.' These abuses are a clear violation of Egyptian and international human rights law. Egyptian prosecutors must immediately investigate this testimony and hold those responsible accountable."

— Sara Qudah, MENA Regional Director

#JournalismIsNotACrime

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

"CPJ is alarmed that Egyptian journalist Rasha Azab has been summoned before the State Security Prosecution, just days after she covered and stood in solidarity with the six detained Matsda2sh journalists. This is a shameful decision, and it shows that Egypt is widening its crackdown on journalists to a level not seen in years. #Egypt authorities must end this campaign immediately and allow journalists to report freely."

— Sara Qudah, MENA Regional Director

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

CPJ calls on Egyptian authorities to immediately release the six detained journalists working for investigative media platform Matsda2sh, reveal their whereabouts, ensure they have prompt access to lawyers and families, and drop any charges stemming solely from their legitimate journalistic work.

https://t.co/cs0bSOpYeg

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

Thank you, Senator @ChrisVanHollen, for standing with Egyptian journalists and calling for the immediate release. Journalism is not a crime, and these six journalists should never have been detained in the first place.

[Senator Chris Van Hollen @ChrisVanHollen]

The Egyptian govt has arrested & disappeared 6 journalists, with zero justification — the largest crackdown in years.

Journalism is not a crime.

The Egyptian govt must disclose their locations, provide access to their legal rights, & release all six immediately.

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

Thank you, @RepDonBeyer and @RepDelBene, the Co-Chairs of the Egypt Human Rights Caucus, for standing with Egyptian journalists and press freedom in Egypt. These journalists should never have been detained.

[Rep. Don Beyer @RepDonBeyer]

As Co-Chairs of the Egypt Human Rights Caucus, @RepDelBene and I are urging the Egyptian government government to release the 6 journalists affiliated with independent investigative journalism platform Matsadaash.

Our statement:

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

Thank you, @SenTimKaine, for continuing to call for accountability for the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on his eighth anniversary.

[Senator Tim Kaine @SenTimKaine]

Eight years ago today, the Saudi government directed the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Virginia resident and journalist dedicated to shining a light on the truth. As we honor his memory, we must remember his courage, continue to fight for accountability for those behind his murder, and recommit ourselves to defending the freedom of the press around the world.

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

“Eight years after his murder, #JamalKhashoggi’s name remains an open wound and a warning. The international community's failure to hold those responsible accountable has reinforced a climate of impunity in which Saudi authorities killed another journalist, Turki al-Jasser, in 2025, while states and non-state actors across the Middle East and North Africa continue to kill, imprison and pursue journalists across borders. Press freedom in the region is unattainable without justice for Jamal.”

Sara Qudah
MENA Regional Director

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

“The arrest and apparent disappearance of six journalists from a single newsroom is a grave escalation in Egypt’s campaign against independent journalism,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. “The international community must not look away as Egyptian authorities systematically intimidate and silence independent media. CPJ warns that this crackdown is a direct assault on journalists’ fundamental right to report freely and independently, and risks deepening a climate of fear that threatens independent journalism across Egypt.” 

https://t.co/cs0bSOpYeg
https://t.co/cs0bSOpYeg

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

CPJ calls on Egyptian authorities to immediately release the six detained journalists working for investigative media platform Matsda2sh, reveal their whereabouts, ensure they have prompt access to lawyers and families, and drop any charges stemming solely from their legitimate journalistic work.

https://t.co/cs0bSOpYeg

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

“Amnesty International’s findings provide a chilling picture of the scale and methods of surveillance targeting journalists in Morocco, and the devastating consequences for press freedom. Moroccan authorities must immediately end the unlawful surveillance of journalists. No journalist should ever face the threat of having their private lives, communications, and movements monitored and weaponized by authorities.”

— Sara Qudah, MENA Regional Director

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

CPJ urges #Morocco to end press surveillance following Amnesty report

@pressfreedom urges Moroccan authorities to immediately end the unlawful surveillance of journalists, and hold those responsible to account. This demand follows a newly published @amnesty report documenting the use of spyware and other surveillance methods by Morocco’s intelligence services to monitor journalists, human rights defenders, and other critical voices.

Read more ⤵️
https://t.co/x4XUP52wpp

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

"CPJ welcomes #Tunisia reducing Decree 54's five-year sentence for a first offense, but this amendment falls short of protecting press freedom. Journalists should never face prison under vague ‘false news’ provisions or criminal laws simply for doing their jobs. Tunisian authorities must immediately release all journalists imprisoned solely for their reporting, and end criminal prosecutions aimed at silencing critical journalism. No journalist should be behind bars for reporting the news or expressing critical views."

��� Sara Qudah, MENA Regional Director

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

CPJ joined partner organizations on Wednesday in condemning the arrest in recent days of six journalists working for independent Egyptian investigative journalism platform @matsda2sh , and calling for their immediate release.

https://t.co/BLgV9Pq0CK

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

This is the moment an Israeli settler kicks Palestinian freelance journalist Salman al-Khatib as he and other journalists covered Israeli demolitions near Birzeit in the occupied West Bank.

Al-Khatib’s experience was not isolated. In the first eight months of 2026, CPJ reviewed at least 16 incidents in which Israeli settlers assaulted, threatened, or obstructed journalists in the West Bank, affecting at least 35 journalists.

Read CPJ’s full investigation:
https://t.co/YCldIw9fWO

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

" CPJ is appalled by the arrests of Egyptian journalists Mohamed Ashraf Abu Emeira, Abdallah Qadry, Islam Barakat, Omar Helal, Mohamed Mahmoud, and Mohamed Adel, effectively detaining Matsadaash investigative media platform's entire newsroom. Egyptian authorities must disclose their whereabouts, ensure their safety and legal rights, and release them immediately. The arrests mark an alarming escalation in Egypt’s crackdown on independent journalism."

[CPJ MENA @CPJMENA]

CPJ is alarmed by the news of the arrest of two Egyptian journalists, Mohamed Ashraf and Abdullah Qadri, both editors at independent Egyptian investigative journalism platform Matsda2sh.

[متصدقش @matsda2sh]

بيان من فريق منصة متصدقش للتحقيقات والتحقق من الأخبار
See the English translation below

في وقت متأخر من مساء أمس، الإثنين 28 سبتمبر، ألقت قوة أمنية القبض على الصحفيين محمد أشرف وعبدالله قدري، المحررين بمنصة "متصدقش"، بعد مداهمة منزليهما، والتحفظ على هواتفهما المحمولة وأجهزة اللابتوب الشخصية. كما شهدت المداهمة تكسير عدد من محتويات المنزل وإتلاف بعض ممتلكاته.

ولم يتضح حتى الآن سبب القبض على الصحفيين، أو الجهة التي تتولى التحقيق معهما، كما لا تتوافر معلومات مؤكدة بشأن مكان احتجازهما، رغم مرور أكثر من 16 ساعة على عملية المداهمة.

وإذ نؤكد مسؤوليتنا الكاملة عن المحتوى الذي تنشره منصة "متصدقش"، فإننا نؤكد في الوقت نفسه أن المنصة كيان صحفي مصري معروف، يمارس عمله الصحفي بصورة معلنة منذ سنوات، واكتسب حضوره ومصداقيته من خلال عمل مهني متواصل وتحقي��ات استقصائية تناولت قضايا وملفات مختلفة.

كما أن محمد أشرف وعبدالله قدري صحفيان معروفان، ويمارسان عملهما الصحفي بصورة علنية، ولا يمثل عملهما داخل المنصة أمرًا خفيًا أو مجهولًا للجهات المعنية.

ونحمّل السلطات المعنية المسؤولية الكاملة عن سلامة الزميلين ومصيرهما، ونطالب بالكشف بشكل عاجل عن أسباب القبض عليهما، والجهة التي تحتجزهما، مع تمكينهما من حقوقهما القانونية كاملة، وإتاحة التواصل مع محاميهما وأسرهما، وفقًا للقانون. تقوم المبادرة المصرية للحقوق الشخصية ومديرها حسام بهجت بالتمثيل القانوني لكامل أعضاء فريق متصدقش.

ونحن، إذ نعرب عن رفضنا لما حدث، نؤكد تمسكنا باستكمال عملنا الصحفي ومسؤوليتنا المهنية، إيمانًا منا بأن الصحافة ليست جري��ة، وبأن حق المجتمع في المعرفة هو جوهر هذا المشروع منذ تأسيسه قبل ثماني سنوات، وسنواصل أداء دورنا الصحفي، متمسكين بحلم قديم متجدد بوطن أفضل يتسع للجميع.

Statement from the Matsadaash Investigations Team

Late last night, Monday, September 28, security forces arrested journalists Mohamed Ashraf and Abdullah Qadri, editors at Matsadaash, following raids on their homes. Their mobile phones and personal laptops were seized during the raids. During one of the raids, security forces also damaged household contents and personal belongings.

More than 12 hours after the raids, the reasons for their arrest remain unknown. It is also unclear which authority is investigating them, and there is still no confirmed information regarding where they are being held.

While we assume full responsibility for all content published by Matsadaash, we emphasize that Matsadaash is a well-established independent Egyptian investigative journalism platform that has operated openly for years. It has built its reputation and credibility through sustained professional journalism and investigative reporting on a wide range of issues of public interest.

Mohamed Ashraf and Abdullah Qadri are known journalists who carry out their work openly. Their roles at Matsadaash are neither secret nor unknown to the relevant authorities.

We hold the relevant authorities fully responsible for the safety and well-being of our two colleagues and call for the immediate disclosure of the reasons for their arrest, the authority responsible for their detention, and their current whereabouts. We further call for their full legal rights to be respected, including immediate access to their lawyers and families, in accordance with the law.

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), under the direction of Hossam Bahgat, provides legal representation for all members of the Matsadaash team.

We strongly reject what has happened and reaffirm our determination to continue our journalistic work and uphold our professional responsibilities. Journalism is not a crime, and the public’s right to know has been at the heart of this project since its founding eight years ago.

We will continue to fulfill our journalistic mission, holding firmly to the enduring hope that inspired us from the beginning: a better country with room for everyone.