Egyptian journalist Lina Attalah sits on a black leather chair. She has a red scarf around her neck, a grey top, cropped black hair, stud earrings and and a silver metal studd in her right nostril, a broad smile on her lips.Image source, AFP via Getty Images
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Amnesty International called the verdict against Lina Attalah 'a crushing blow to press freedom' (file photo)

ByDavid Gritten
  • Published58 minutes ago

The editor-in-chief of the independent Egyptian news outlet Mada Masr has been taken into custody after a court convicted her of managing an unlicensed website and ordered its closure, her lawyers say.

Lina Attalah will be held until she pays the fine of 3m Egyptian pounds ($53,500; £40,100) also handed down by the New Cairo Misdemeanours Court. It was the maximum possible penalty for the charge, which she had rejected.