Lina Attalah

Lina Attalah is an Egyptian woman human rights defender, journalist and co-founder and editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, an independent bilingual news outlet established in Cairo in 2013. She is a prominent advocate for independent journalism and press freedom in Egypt. Lina Attalah previously served as managing editor of the Egypt Independent and has reported extensively on political, social and human rights issues across Egypt and the wider Middle East. Her journalism has addressed sensitive issues including state accountability, immigration, conflict and freedom of expression.

Lina Attalah has received international recognition for her work, including the 2020 Knight International Journalism Award from the International Center for Journalists. She was also named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2020. As a result of her human rights and journalistic work, the woman human rights defender has faced persistent judicial harassment and intimidation.