Egypt
On February 28, 2026, the Committee for Justice (CFJ) issued a statement condemning the detention of Dr. Mohamed Osama El-Sayed and Dr. Mostafa Mahmoud Orabi. Both doctors were arrested in connection with their legal actions challenging the Ministry of Health's decision to reduce the number of assigned trainees by approximately 40%.
According to CFJ's documentation, Dr. Mohamed Osama El-Sayed, a candidate for the under-35 seat on the General Syndicate of Dentists, was arrested from his residence at 3:30 a.m. on February 22, 2026. This arrest occurred one day before the Administrative Court hearing on the case filed against the Ministry of Health's decision, which he had coordinated with several fellow graduates.
Dr. Mostafa Mahmoud Orabi, a 2023 dentistry graduate from Damietta, was arrested on February 23, 2026, by National Security officers while inside his car in Damietta.
Both doctors appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on February 25, 2026, in Case No. 945/2026 (Supreme State Security). They were charged with spreading false news and joining a banned group. The prosecution ordered their pretrial detention in connection with their legal and solidarity actions undertaken by graduates of the 2023 dentistry cohort to challenge the Ministry of Health's decision.
The CFJ stated that these actions constitute an infringement on fundamental constitutional rights, including the right to litigation, freedom of expression, and freedom of association and peaceful assembly. The organization expressed concern over the use of pretrial detention in response to peaceful, lawful professional and syndicate-related demands.
CFJ called for the immediate release of both doctors and for ensuring the right of 2023 graduates to pursue legal remedies and challenge administrative decisions without fear of arrest or retaliation. The Committee also urged a review of the expanding use of pretrial detention in cases related to freedom of expression and professional organization to safeguard constitutional guarantees and uphold the rule of law.
For more information and media requests or inquiries, please contact CFJ at +41229403538 or media@cfjustice.org.
