The Egyptian Medical Syndicate demanded, on Tuesday, the release of five doctors who were detained for criticising the authority’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EMS called in an official letter sent to the Attorney General Hamada al-Sawy for the rapid release of its members who were detained for publishing their opinions on Facebook.

The five doctors are still on parole after being accused of belonging to a terrorist group, publishing false news and using Facebook to spread rumours.

The detained doctors are:

1. Doctor Mohamed Hamed Mahmoud, orthopedic doctor in Gamal Abdel Nasser Hospital, who complained about the shortage of masks in his hospital and was arrested early in March 2020.
2. Doctor Alaa Shaaban Hemida, a gynecologist in el-Shatby Hospital, who was arrested after reporting a case of COVID-19 early in February, which was considered then by her bosses as spreading rumours, so they reported her to the police.
3. Doctor Ibrahim Abdel Hameed Bedaiwy, a surgeon in el-Matareya Educational Hospital, who was arrested a day before he joined the army for obligatory national service. Bedaiwy was arrested because he directed harsh criticism on Facebook to the minister of health after the death of Waleed Yehya, a young doctor who died of medical negligence.
4. Doctor Hany Bakr Ali, an ophthalmologist who was arrested from his clinic.
5. Doctor Ahmed Sabra, professor of gynecology in Benha University, who was arrested from his clinic.

Mohamed and Ibrahim are involved in case no. 535 of year 2020, while Alaa, Hany and Ahmed are involved in case no. 558 of year 2020. EMS concluded in its letter that their arrest has caused frustration and depression among doctors who are already living through hard times combating the COVID-19 pandemic.