Investigative journalist Barbara Gorgi and the Egyptian censorship state

As an investigative journalist, I focused on exposing corruption within the government. I covered topics such as child labour in Egyptian quarries, some of which are under the control of military authorities. I contacted international organisations to verify sources, which led some European companies to stop importing stones from Egypt. However, my research into this caused me increasing problems.

Corrupt deals

Before leaving Egypt, I researched corrupt deals within EgyptAir involving various businessmen and security officials. The investigation revealed that millions of Egyptian pounds of public money were wasted in suspicious transactions. After the investigation was published, the pressure on me increased sharply: I was spied on, investigated and faced with trumped-up charges. All signs pointed in the same direction: jail - just as with many of my colleagues.

I lived in a constant state of fear, especially when I heard about arrests of colleagues or the authorities tracking their movements. This fear increased after every publication. It became routine to use encrypted apps and change my passwords regularly to protect my data. Encrypted email was my only secure way of communicating with sources, but even that did not offer complete peace of mind.

Departure to the Netherlands

Fear for my safety became a daily occurrence. After each new research article, I received hate messages and threats of legal repercussions aimed at myself or my family. Therefore, I left Egypt for the Netherlands in 2024. After arriving in the Netherlands, in collaboration with the International Journalists’ Network (IJNet), I published a report entitled ‘The Forgotten Families of Upper Egypt’ on the website Raseef22. I then faced a smear campaign and threats from Egypt, which extended to my family there and to the publication platform. Eventually, the article was removed. Last December, the piece was republished on the UK website Media Diversity. But so even now, in a new country, the fear remains.

Press freedom in Egypt

Since 2013, Egypt has experienced a sharp decline in press freedom; in the press freedom index, the country now ranks 170. The authorities impose strict censorship on the media and block hundreds of news websites. Independent media outlets are under enormous pressure, making journalism a dangerous profession in Egypt. Random arrests of journalists are increasingly common, often on charges such as ‘spreading false information’ or ‘belonging to a banned group’.

This article previously appeared in 360 Magazine.