The Committee for Justice (CFJ) condemns the detention of Dr. Mohamed Osama El‑Sayed, candidate for the under‑35 seat on the General Syndicate of Dentists, and Dr. Mostafa Mahmoud Orabi (from Damietta, Dentistry Class of 2023), who appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on 25 February 2026 in Case No. 945/2026 (Supreme State Security).
According to CFJ’s documentation, the prosecution charged them with spreading false news and joining a banned group, ordering their pretrial detention in connection with legal and solidarity actions undertaken by graduates of the 2023 dentistry cohort to challenge the Ministry of Health’s decision to reduce the number of assigned trainees by approximately 40%.
CFJ reported that Egyptian security forces arrested Mostafa Orabi on 23 February 2026 from inside his car by National Security officers in Damietta. Dr. Mohamed Osama was arrested earlier, at 3:30 a.m. on 22 February 2026, from his residence—one day before the Administrative Court hearing on the case filed against the Ministry of Health’s decision, coordinated with several of their fellow graduates.
The Committee stated that these actions constitute an infringement on fundamental constitutional rights, foremost among them the right to litigation, freedom of expression, and freedom of association and peaceful assembly. The measures taken also raise concerns about the use of pretrial detention in response to peaceful, lawful professional and syndicate‑related demands.
CFJ calls 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 urges a review of the expanding use of pretrial detention in cases related to freedom of expression and professional organization, in order to safeguard constitutional guarantees and uphold the rule of law.
