The Doctors Syndicate is calling for the prosecution of police conscripts accused of brutality against two doctors in the Matariya Teaching Hospital, among other demands that will be presented to the Prosecutor General by a delegation heading to his office Sunday noon.<\/p>\n
Members of the syndicate\u2019s council held a prolonged emergency meeting Saturday followed by a press conference, in which they announced a permanent session and that the general assembly will convene for an urgent session on 12 February.<\/p>\n
A sense of anger prevailed during the press conference, while a number of doctors were holding banners denouncing police brutality and demanding the enforcement of justice and respect for human rights. One of the doctors present, Alaa El-Din Mohamed, spoke to Daily News Egypt before the press conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we are facing here are direct threats from the prosecutor towards our colleagues, forged medical reports, and [collusion] by the hospital director who deleted video evidence of the assault. [The police] commit crimes against citizens every day,\u201d Mohamed said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf [this is the result] of corruption, then corrupt pubic officials must be replaced. Corruption is also widespread within the Ministry of Health by approving laws [that facilitate] more corruption. I have presented a complaint against President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, former prime minister Ibrahim Mehleb, and his cabinet, [who are] responsible for failing to apply social justice and respect human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n
The assembly and press conference follows a reported assault on doctors Moamen Abdel Azim and Ahmed Mahmoud El-Sayed. The two doctors told the press that beginning on Thursday evening through Friday, they had been subjected to insults, severe beatings, and threats as a group of conscripts attacked them at the hospital, repeatedly.<\/p>\n
Head of the syndicate Mona Mina denounced the incident at the conference and \u201cthat those who were in charge of the doctors\u2019 safety were their assaulters\u201d. She further announced that they closed the reception service at the Matariya Hospital, where the incident took place, and said that the only cases that are already inside the hospital will be treated. She further noted that all doctors are subject to the syndicate\u2019s decision, irrespective of the hospital administration\u2019s objections.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue began simply. [A conscript] had a scratch on his face and [El-Sayed and I] said \u2018it\u2019s no big deal\u2019 as we prepared to look after him, but he [misunderstood] and actually started a fight with us. He believed he was \u2018severely\u2019 injured and wanted a report stating that,\u201d Moamen had told the press.<\/p>\n
Moamed said that what followed was that the conscript and his colleagues persistently beat them, threatened them when they asked the receptionist to call for help, and detained them inside a surgery room.<\/p>\n