埃及检方于周三（10月7日）指控一家独立核查平台的六名记者犯有恐怖主义相关罪名，指称他们为被取缔的穆斯林兄弟会工作，并接受外国资金传播“虚假新闻”。据该媒体管理层和权利组织称，这六名记者构成了“Matsadaash”（意为“不要相信”）的整个新闻编辑部，他们于9月28日和29日在多个省份的突击搜捕行动中被捕。Matsadaash自2018年起开始运营，经常调查官方和国家机构的言论。
Egyptian prosecutors accused six journalists from an independent fact-checking platform on Wednesday, October 7, of terrorism-related offenses, alleging they worked for the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and received foreign funding to spread "false news." The journalists, who make up the entire newsroom of Matsadaash, were arrested during raids across several governorates on September 28 and 29, according to the outlet's management and rights groups. Matsadaash, whose name means "Don't Believe It" in Arabic, has operated since 2018 and often investigates statements by officials and state bodies.
代表这些记者的埃及个人权利倡议组织（EIPR）表示，他们在被捕后报告遭受酷刑，内政部否认了这些指控。检方在周三的一份声明中称，此案源自对兄弟会海外领导人活动的调查。他们指称这些领导人指示成员创建在线平台，传播“谣言、虚假新闻和声明”，动摇公众对国家机构的信心，并煽动民众参加示威活动。
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), which represents the journalists, said they had reported torture following their arrests, allegations denied by the Interior Ministry. In a statement on Wednesday, prosecutors said the case stemmed from investigations into activities by Brotherhood leaders abroad. They alleged those leaders had directed members to create online platforms to spread "rumors and false news and statements," undermine confidence in state institutions and incite people to take part in demonstrations.
声明将Matsadaash认定为“该组织的媒体平台之一”，并称其在海外运营。调查人员还指控被告通过一家由居住在海外的兄弟会成员拥有的公司转账，以外币形式接收“每月资助”。据检方称，一名被告供认，他和其他人被指示发布“关于国家机构及其官员的虚假新闻，以准备推翻他们”。另一名被告据称供认，该平台被用来以一种助长公众不满的方式“凸显”国家官员的“缺点”。
The statement identified Matsadaash as "one of the group's media platforms" operated from abroad. Investigators also alleged the defendants received "monthly funding" in foreign currencies through transfers from a company owned by a Brotherhood member living overseas. According to the prosecution, one defendant admitted that he and the others had been instructed to publish "false news about state institutions and their officials in preparation for bringing them down." Another defendant allegedly admitted the platform was used to "highlight shortcomings" by state officials in a way that fuels public discontent.
检方称，对两名记者社交媒体账号的检查发现了“支持恐怖组织穆斯林兄弟会”的帖子。Matsadaash及其联合创始人、埃及2011年起义的著名活动家Abdelrahman Mansour（现定居纽约）否认这些指控。穆斯林兄弟会于2013年在埃及被取缔，此前已故伊斯兰主义总统穆尔西被推翻。
Prosecutors said an examination of two journalists' social media accounts found posts "supporting the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood group." Matsadaash and its co-founder, Abdelrahman Mansour, a prominent activist from Egypt's 2011 uprising now based in New York, deny the allegations. The Muslim Brotherhood was banned in Egypt in 2013 following the overthrow of late Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
因加入该组织的指控被定罪，最高可判处无期徒刑。这些逮捕行动招致了数十个人权和新闻自由组织的谴责，他们呼吁释放这些记者。据EIPR称，埃及长期因对媒体活动的限制而受到批评，在最新逮捕行动后，目前因工作原因关押了26名记者。
A conviction on charges of belonging to the group can carry a sentence of up to life imprisonment. The arrests have drawn condemnation from dozens of rights and press freedom groups, who have called for the journalists' release. Egypt, which has long faced criticism over restrictions on media activity, is now holding 26 journalists in connection with their work following the latest arrests, according to EIPR.