Sources Reveal the Truth Behind Moataz Matar’s Alleged Arrest: Extradition Rumors and Muslim Brotherhood Moves
Amid a storm of rumors and widespread claims circulating across social media, reports have recently emerged alleging the arrest of Egyptian journalist Moataz Matar and his extradition to Cairo in execution of court rulings issued against him in Egypt. Despite extensive media coverage, the reality appears far more complex, shrouded in official ambiguity and diplomatic silence. As of now, neither the British nor the Egyptian authorities have released any official statement confirming or denying the arrest or extradition of the controversial journalist, who is aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood. This official silence has raised many questions, especially given that Matar is one of the most prominent media voices opposing the Egyptian regime and has been living abroad for years.
Escalating Rumors, Absent Authorities
Social media posts have suggested that Matar was detained in London in preparation for his extradition to Egypt—a move that would mark an unprecedented step in judicial cooperation between the two countries on the matter of Egyptian dissidents abroad.
However, the lack of confirmation from either government renders these claims unverified.
Looking back, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported in November 2023 that the UK government had revoked Moataz Matar’s residency visa, placed him on a watchlist, and barred him from re-entering the country.
According to the paper, Matar had been a “frequent visitor” to the UK and left before the decision was enforced, without being allowed to return.
Legal sources in London clarified that the decision did not necessarily involve an arrest warrant or an extradition order. Instead, it was an administrative action related to immigration and national security. Matar may now be residing in another European country or in Turkey, which is known to be a hub for opposition journalists linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Harsh Sentences in Egypt
In November 2024, the First Terrorism Circuit of the Supreme State Security Criminal Court sentenced Moataz Matar in absentia to seven years in prison, accusing him of “joining a media cell affiliated with the terrorist-designated Muslim Brotherhood.”
The case includes several other well-known media figures such as Hamza Zobaa, Mohamed Nasser, Abdullah El Sherif, and El-Sayed Tawakkol.
The charges include “spreading false news, incitement to violence, undermining state authority, disturbing public order, and calling for the regime’s overthrow”—offenses largely tied to media content produced and broadcast from outside Egypt.
A Politically Charged Case
A source within the Muslim Brotherhood, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed that legal and political efforts are underway to prevent Matar’s extradition, assuming he has indeed been detained.
The source stated that intensive communication is ongoing with international human rights organizations and legal actors in the UK and beyond to counter any attempt at handing Matar over to Egyptian authorities.
He added that although no confirmation of extradition has been received so far, the group is taking the leak seriously and treating it as part of a broader pattern targeting opposition figures abroad. He emphasized that the Brotherhood views the Matar case as “a purely political one” and that any extradition would represent a severe blow to the exiled opposition media.
The same source explained that the group is also seeking to engage British MPs, political allies, and human rights advocates to raise the alarm over what could be interpreted as a breach of Britain’s long-standing judicial principles regarding asylum and political protection.
He concluded by citing consultations with legal experts in London, who confirmed that any extradition from the UK to Egypt would require a complex judicial process in line with human rights conventions—something that has not occurred in similar cases in the past.
