Egyptian journalists are planning a new protest in Cairo this weekend after six colleagues from the independent factchecking and investigative platform Matsadaash were charged with terrorism offences.
Last week, Egyptian authorities arrested the journalists, accusing them of being unlicensed and producing false news on behalf of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. All six have told lawyers they had been tortured and forced to film false confessions.
Darwish added that they were forced to read purported confessions from sheets of paper in filmed sessions involving repeated takes in front of professional filming crews. Staff also allege torture and forced confessions after being held on charges of working for the Muslim Brotherhood.