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 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).

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’s 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.

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.

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 “spreading false news” and “joining a banned group,” 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.

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.

Accordingly, we call for:

The immediate release of the three detained doctors and the cessation of all security-related investigations connected to their trade union and legal activities.

Full respect for the rights to freedom of association, trade union organization, freedom of expression, and access to judicial remedies to challenge administrative decisions.

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.

No to the targeting of trade unionists.
No to the criminalization of the defense of professional rights.
Freedom for the detained doctors.

First: Public Figures

Ahmed Fathy Abdel Aziz, Former Assistant Treasurer, Egyptian Medical Syndicate

Ahmed Mahmoud Bakr, Former Secretary-General, Cairo Doctors Syndicate

Ahmed El-Farash, Physician

Ahmed Shahin, Former Rapporteur, Youth Committee, Egyptian Dental Syndicate

Islam Fadel, Pharmacist

Amir Hamed, Dentist

Dr. Ehab El-Taher, Former Secretary-General, Egyptian Medical Syndicate

Akrm Ismail, Engineer

Omayma Emad, Researcher

Amina Abdel-Rahman, Women’s Secretary, Egyptian Communist Party

Elhamy El-Merghany, Economist

Eman Awad, Rapporteur of the Freedoms Committee, Journalists’ Syndicate

Elham Eidaros, Co-founder, Bread and Freedom Party

Bisan Kassab, Journalist

Gamal Eid, Human Rights Lawyer

Hassan Badawi, Journalist

Hossam El-Hamalawy, Revolutionary Socialists

Hossam Bahgat, Director, Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights

Khaled Ali, Human Rights Lawyer

Dr. Sherif Azar, Human Rights Defender and Academic

Dr. Mohamed Hassan Khalil, Egyptian Socialist Party

Dr. Zoheir El-Shamy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Socialist Popular Alliance Party

Ragah Yasser El-Sayagi, Former Member, Egyptian Doctors Syndicate Council

Rasha Qandeel, Journalist

Roshwan Shaaban, Former Assistant Secretary-General, Doctors Syndicate

Salma Hussein, Journalist

Sana Ahmed Fouad, Former Treasurer, Cairo Doctors Syndicate

Suzanne Nada, Lawyer

Salah Adel, Secretary-General, Egyptian Communist Party

Salah El-Sawy, Academic and Literary Critic

Tarek Mokhtar, Former Member, Alexandria Doctors Syndicate Council (2011–2013), Former Member, Doctors Syndicate Freedoms Committee

Abdel Aziz El-Hosny, Engineer

Abdullah El-Sennawy, Journalist and Writer

Emad Mubarak Hassan, Lawyer

Ammar Ali Hassan, Writer and Journalist

Amr El-Shoury, Former Member, Doctors Syndicate Council

Kamal Abu Eita, Lawyer

Kamal Abbas, General Coordinator, Center for Trade Union and Workers’ Services

Karima El-Hefnawy, Pharmacist and Writer

Malek Adly, Lawyer (Court of Cassation)

Mohsen Azzam, Former Member, Egyptian Doctors Syndicate Council

Mahmoud Kamel, Member, Journalists’ Syndicate Council

Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Moqbel, Former Assistant Secretary-General, Cairo Doctors Syndicate

Mohamed Abu Quraysh, Engineer

Mohamed El-Baqer, Lawyer

Mohamed El-Garhy, Member, Journalists’ Syndicate Council

Mohamed El-Halawani, Human Rights Lawyer

Mohamed Badawi, Former Secretary-General, Egyptian Dental Syndicate

Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Hamid, Former Treasurer, Egyptian Doctors Syndicate

Mohamed Saad Abdel-Hafiz, Deputy Head, Journalists’ Syndicate

Mohamed Ezzat El-Refaey, Dentist

Mostafa El-Bassiouni, Journalist

Manar Hussein, Physician

Mona Mina, Physician and Former Secretary-General, Egyptian Doctors Syndicate

Nada Moghith, University Professor

Nivine Obeid, Founder, New Woman Foundation

Hesham Fouad, Journalist

Wafaa Ashry, Researcher

Yasser Mamoun, Engineer

Yehia Qalash, Former Head, Journalists’ Syndicate

Second: Political Parties and Organizations

1. Egyptian Communist Party

2. Egyptian Front for Human Rights

3. Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms

4. Revolutionary Socialists

5. Egyptian Platform for Human Rights

6. Socialist Popular Alliance Party

7. Bread and Freedom Party

8. Constitution Party

9. Center for Trade Union and Workers’ Services

10. El Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence

11. Ensaf Initiative

12. Refugees Platform in Egypt

13. New Woman Foundation

14. Foundation for Law and Democracy Support

15. Egyptian Telecommunications Pensioners’ Syndicate

16. National Front for Egyptian Women