Doctor charged with 'spreading false news' in Egypt after highlighting obstetric violence in hospitals

Doctor charged with 'spreading false news' in Egypt after highlighting obstetric violence in hospitals MEE staff on Thu, 06/18/2026 - 18:40 Doctor Omnia Swedan was arrested and also charged with misusing social media, but then released on bail An image of Omnia Swedan taken from her social media account Threads (Threads/@omnia.swedan) Off Omnia Swedan, an Egyptian doctor, was released on bail on Wednesday evening local time after being investigated on charges of spreading false news and misusing social media. Swedan appeared before the eastern branch of the Alexandria Public Prosecution. Swedan was arrested on Tuesday at her home in Damanhour after the Public Prosecution received a complaint from Alexandria University Hospitals over a post on her Facebook page. In the post, she recalled her two months working as a medical trainee at El Shatby Hospital in 2020, which she described as “hell”. El Shatby is one hospital in Alexandria University Hospitals' network of healthcare facilities. El Shatby is one of the hospitals in Alexandria University Hospitals' network of healthcare facilities Before her arrest on Tuesday, Swedan edited her Facebook post to clarify that she shared her testimony to highlight working conditions and medical practices in the obstetrics and gynaecology ward, while calling for the safety of women and patients. Omnia Swaydan was arrested from her home in Damanhour on Tuesday, according to three lawyers following her case. pic.twitter.com/Pg2D3SZfPl June 16, 2026 In her Facebook post, which Swedan published on Monday, she focused on "obstetric violence" while recounting four incidents that took place in the hospital, which she said “will never be erased from her memory”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Obstetric violence can include physical, psychological or verbal abuse as well as dehumanising treatment or neglect faced by anyone during pregnancy, childbirth, labour, delivery, or during the post-partum period. The four accounts described a series of alleged cases of obstetric violence against women. One case included the alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman who was giving birth to her first child. In another case, a woman said she had been raped and went to the hospital accompanied by a police officer to be examined, receive birth control and HIV medication, but was allegedly denied treatment because of “what she was wearing and smoking cigarettes”. Another woman who was in labour was allegedly slapped by a doctor for crying, while nurses were accused of directing hateful comments towards her and shaming her. Swedan also described the case of a woman who was six months pregnant and claimed she had fallen but appeared to have been visibly assaulted, with a clear bruise around her eye. She said the woman's umbilical cord was completely outside her body, while the foetus was wrapped in a cloth. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); According to Swedan’s account, the hospital did not file a domestic violence report and refused to provide medical care unless the woman presented a marriage certificate first, which could have put her at risk of pregnancy-related poisoning or pre-eclampsia. Swedan said she admitted the woman under her own personal responsibility. Following news of Swedan’s arrest, discussions around obstetric violence grew on social media, with multiple women sharing their own personal birth experiences in both private and public hospitals. The accounts shared by women and medical workers echoed many of the allegations Swedan raised in her posts, ranging from undergoing unnecessary C-sections that were purportedly financially motivated, to sexual harassment, physical violence, and the infamous “husband stitch”. "إنتِ مش أول وحدة بتولد"... جملة قد تبدو عادية للبعض، لكنها بالنسبة الى كثيرات من النساء جزء من تجربة مؤلمة داخل غرف الولادة. pic.twitter.com/b50M5bVI81 June 18, 2026 Egyptian human rights groups, including the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, condemned Swedan’s arrest and called for her immediate release. Lobna Darwish, head of the group’s women’s rights and gender programme, said the allegations were not unique to El Shatby Hospital. “Unfortunately, the state treats anything that sparks public concern as a security matter,” she told the Associated Press. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Alexandria University released a statement addressing the concerns raised on social media regarding El Shatby University Hospital, saying: “The University affirms that patient dignity and safety, along with upholding professional ethics, are fundamental principles that cannot be compromised or violated under any circumstances. The right to file a complaint is guaranteed to all, and the University will not hesitate to investigate any report or complaint containing specific facts supported by documents or evidence that allow for verification. The University will take the necessary actions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.” Women Trending Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:29 Update Date Override 0