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Dozens of Egyptian journalists staged a sit-in in Cairo on Saturday, calling for the release of six reporters detained earlier this week in what rights groups say is the most serious blow to independent media in years.

The detained journalists made up the entire newsroom of Matsadaash, an independent media platform known for fact-checking and investigative reporting.

Journalists gathered at the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, whose general assembly declared itself in permanent session and announced an open-ended sit-in at the syndicate's headquarters until its council meets on Monday to decide on further action.

"The danger is not limited to these journalists. It affects all independent journalists," local journalist Mostafa Bassiouny told AFP at the sit-in.

"There is a real threat to the already very narrow spaces for independent journalism," he said.

Security forces arrested the six journalists in raids across several Egyptian governorates between Monday and Tuesday, according to rights groups and the outlet's management.

Lawyers and rights advocates say the journalists were held without their whereabouts being immediately disclosed to families or legal representatives.

Saturday's rally followed several days of mounting criticism from international press freedom and human rights organisations.

More than 80 regional and international organisations, including Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have condemned the arrests and called for the journalists' immediate release.

"Dismantling an entire newsroom in a matter of hours without warning or cause sends a chilling message to all journalists working in Egypt," said Bassam Khawaja, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

Egyptian authorities have defended the arrests. In a statement, the Interior Ministry accused the six journalists of belonging to a media network linked to the banned Muslim Brotherhood and of "publishing false news" with funding from abroad.

Officials said legal measures had been taken against them.

Matsadaash, whose name means "Don't Believe It" in Arabic, rejected the allegations.

Egypt has long faced criticism from press freedom organisations over restrictions on media activity.

According to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the latest arrests bring the number of journalists in Egypt detained in connection with their work to 26.