Egyptian journalist charged with terrorism after six-person newsroom detained

Egyptian authorities have charged journalist Mohamed Ashraf with joining a terrorist group, days after security forces detained six Matsadaash staff members.

• On Sunday, authorities charged Ashraf with joining a terrorist group and spreading false news, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.
• Security forces detained the six Matsadaash journalists from their homes over two days, accusing the outlet of publishing false news for the Muslim Brotherhood.
• Co-founder Abdelrahman Mansour denied any association with the Muslim Brotherhood and demanded the government explain the arrests.
• The Journalists' Syndicate demanded the detainees' release, and dozens of journalists staged a sit-in outside its Cairo headquarters.