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Security forces arrest Egyptian socialist

This article is over 10 years, 7 months old
Issue 2486
Dr Taher Mokhtar (centre, in brown jacket) and colleagues during the doctors’ strike in 2014
Dr Taher Mokhtar (centre, in brown jacket) and colleagues during the doctors’ strike in 2014

A doctor and socialist activist in Egypt was arrested by Egyptian security forces last week.

Dr Taher Mokhtar was one of the leaders of two national doctors’ strikes in Egypt in 2012 and 2014. He was seized by the security forces in a dawn raid on his home last week.

He and two colleagues have been remanded in custody for 15 days. Prosecutors are investigating charges of “possessing publications calling for the overthrow of the regime”.

Doctors and health trade unionists from Britain, Greece, Holland and the US have launched an international campaign for Taher’s release.

Key activists from the BMA junior doctors’ committee are backing the call.

A delegation are set to hand in signatures to the Egyptian embassy in London at 11 am on Thursday of next week. The delegation will be led by Dr Ron Singer of the Medical Practitioners Union.

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