\nThe undersigned public figures call for the immediate release of the detained dentists and pharmacists from the 2023 cohort: Dr. Mohamed Osama El-Sayed, a dentist from Mansoura (Dakahlia Governorate) and candidate for the General Syndicate of Dentists (Under-Age Seat); Dr. Mostafa Mahmoud Arabi, a dentist from Damietta and representative of the 2023 cohort within the General Syndicate of Dentists; and Dr. Ehab Sameh Abdel-Malek, a pharmacist from Zagazig (Sharqia Governorate). The three have been held in pretrial detention for approximately two months in connection with Case No. 945 of 2026 and are currently detained at Tenth of Ramadan Prison (Facility 6).<\/p>\n
A hearing for the renewal of their pretrial detention for the fourth time is scheduled for 19 April, solely on account of their peaceful expression of opposition to the Minister of Health\u2019s decision to curtail the mandatory assignment system. The individuals concerned exercised lawful and peaceful means, including filing judicial challenges, engaging in trade union activity, and participating in discussions within closed professional groups.<\/p>\n
The mandatory assignment system, in force since 1974, constitutes the principal gateway to the practice of the medical professions and marks the commencement of professional careers, postgraduate training, and a key source of income for thousands of graduates of medical faculties. These graduates were not informed of the relevant policy change prior to their enrollment in such faculties.<\/p>\n
The arrest of trade union candidates and professional activists, their removal from their homes and workplaces, and their referral to the Supreme State Security Prosecution on broadly framed charges such as \u201cspreading false news\u201d and \u201cjoining a banned group,\u201d constitute a direct violation of the right to trade union activity, the right of access to justice, and the fundamental guarantees of professional and personal freedoms enshrined in the Constitution and applicable law.<\/p>\n
We affirm that defending the right to fair mandatory assignment, opposing the retroactive application of administrative decisions to an entire cohort, and pursuing remedies through trade union and judicial channels do not constitute criminal conduct. Rather, such actions form part of the legitimate exercise of professional and civic rights. The securitization of policy disputes in the health sector will not resolve the structural crisis of the healthcare system; instead, it risks exacerbating it and intimidating doctors and pharmacists at a time when their services are critically needed.<\/p>\n
Accordingly, we call for:<\/p>\n
The immediate release of the three detained doctors and the cessation of all security-related investigations connected to their trade union and legal activities.<\/p>\n
Full respect for the rights to freedom of association, trade union organization, freedom of expression, and access to judicial remedies to challenge administrative decisions.<\/p>\n
The opening of a serious and structured dialogue with representatives of medical graduates to address the mandatory assignment issue in a manner that ensures fairness, transparency, and the right to decent work.<\/p>\n
\nNo to the targeting of trade unionists.
\nNo to the criminalization of the defense of professional rights.
\nFreedom for the detained doctors.<\/p>\n
First: Public Figures<\/p>\n
Ahmed Fathy Abdel Aziz, Former Assistant Treasurer, Egyptian Medical Syndicate<\/p>\n
Ahmed Mahmoud Bakr, Former Secretary-General, Cairo Doctors Syndicate<\/p>\n
Ahmed El-Farash, Physician<\/p>\n
Ahmed Shahin, Former Rapporteur, Youth Committee, Egyptian Dental Syndicate<\/p>\n
Islam Fadel, Pharmacist<\/p>\n
Amir Hamed, Dentist<\/p>\n
Dr. Ehab El-Taher, Former Secretary-General, Egyptian Medical Syndicate<\/p>\n
Akrm Ismail, Engineer<\/p>\n
Omayma Emad, Researcher<\/p>\n
Amina Abdel-Rahman, Women\u2019s Secretary, Egyptian Communist Party<\/p>\n
Elhamy El-Merghany, Economist<\/p>\n
Eman Awad, Rapporteur of the Freedoms Committee, Journalists\u2019 Syndicate<\/p>\n
Elham Eidaros, Co-founder, Bread and Freedom Party<\/p>\n
Bisan Kassab, Journalist<\/p>\n
Gamal Eid, Human Rights Lawyer<\/p>\n
Hassan Badawi, Journalist<\/p>\n
Hossam El-Hamalawy, Revolutionary Socialists<\/p>\n
Hossam Bahgat, Director, Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights<\/p>\n
Khaled Ali, Human Rights Lawyer<\/p>\n
Dr. Sherif Azar, Human Rights Defender and Academic<\/p>\n
Dr. Mohamed Hassan Khalil, Egyptian Socialist Party<\/p>\n
Dr. Zoheir El-Shamy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Socialist Popular Alliance Party<\/p>\n
Ragah Yasser El-Sayagi, Former Member, Egyptian Doctors Syndicate Council<\/p>\n
Rasha Qandeel, Journalist<\/p>\n
Roshwan Shaaban, Former Assistant Secretary-General, Doctors Syndicate<\/p>\n
Salma Hussein, Journalist<\/p>\n
Sana Ahmed Fouad, Former Treasurer, Cairo Doctors Syndicate<\/p>\n
Suzanne Nada, Lawyer<\/p>\n
Salah Adel, Secretary-General, Egyptian Communist Party<\/p>\n
Salah El-Sawy, Academic and Literary Critic<\/p>\n
Tarek Mokhtar, Former Member, Alexandria Doctors Syndicate Council (2011\u20132013), Former Member, Doctors Syndicate Freedoms Committee<\/p>\n
Abdel Aziz El-Hosny, Engineer<\/p>\n
Abdullah El-Sennawy, Journalist and Writer<\/p>\n
Emad Mubarak Hassan, Lawyer<\/p>\n
Ammar Ali Hassan, Writer and Journalist<\/p>\n
Amr El-Shoury, Former Member, Doctors Syndicate Council<\/p>\n
Kamal Abu Eita, Lawyer<\/p>\n
Kamal Abbas, General Coordinator, Center for Trade Union and Workers\u2019 Services<\/p>\n
Karima El-Hefnawy, Pharmacist and Writer<\/p>\n
Malek Adly, Lawyer (Court of Cassation)<\/p>\n
Mohsen Azzam, Former Member, Egyptian Doctors Syndicate Council<\/p>\n
Mahmoud Kamel, Member, Journalists\u2019 Syndicate Council<\/p>\n
Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Moqbel, Former Assistant Secretary-General, Cairo Doctors Syndicate<\/p>\n
Mohamed Abu Quraysh, Engineer<\/p>\n
Mohamed El-Baqer, Lawyer<\/p>\n
Mohamed El-Garhy, Member, Journalists\u2019 Syndicate Council<\/p>\n
Mohamed El-Halawani, Human Rights Lawyer<\/p>\n
Mohamed Badawi, Former Secretary-General, Egyptian Dental Syndicate<\/p>\n
Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Hamid, Former Treasurer, Egyptian Doctors Syndicate<\/p>\n
Mohamed Saad Abdel-Hafiz, Deputy Head, Journalists\u2019 Syndicate<\/p>\n
Mohamed Ezzat El-Refaey, Dentist<\/p>\n
Mostafa El-Bassiouni, Journalist<\/p>\n
Manar Hussein, Physician<\/p>\n
Mona Mina, Physician and Former Secretary-General, Egyptian Doctors Syndicate<\/p>\n
Nada Moghith, University Professor<\/p>\n
Nivine Obeid, Founder, New Woman Foundation<\/p>\n
Hesham Fouad, Journalist<\/p>\n
Wafaa Ashry, Researcher<\/p>\n
Yasser Mamoun, Engineer<\/p>\n
Yehia Qalash, Former Head, Journalists\u2019 Syndicate<\/p>\n
Second: Political Parties and Organizations<\/p>\n
1. Egyptian Communist Party<\/p>\n
2. Egyptian Front for Human Rights<\/p>\n
\n3. Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms<\/p>\n
\n4. Revolutionary Socialists<\/p>\n
\n5. Egyptian Platform for Human Rights<\/p>\n
\n6. Socialist Popular Alliance Party<\/p>\n
\n7. Bread and Freedom Party<\/p>\n
\n8. Constitution Party<\/p>\n
\n9. Center for Trade Union and Workers\u2019 Services<\/p>\n
\n10. El Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence<\/p>\n
\n11. Ensaf Initiative<\/p>\n
\n12. Refugees Platform in Egypt<\/p>\n
\n13. New Woman Foundation<\/p>\n
\n14. Foundation for Law and Democracy Support<\/p>\n
\n15. Egyptian Telecommunications Pensioners\u2019 Syndicate<\/p>\n
\n16. National Front for Egyptian Women<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The undersigned public figures call for the immediate release of the detained dentists and pharmacists from the 2023 cohort: Dr. Mohamed Osama El-Sayed, a dentist from Mansoura (Dakahlia Governorate) and candidate for the General Syndicate of Dentists (Under-Age Seat); Dr. Mostafa Mahmoud Arabi, a dentist from Damietta and representative of the 2023 cohort within the …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":809192,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[562],"tags":[],"coauthors":[936],"class_list":["post-809209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n