A former Egyptian doctor has been arrested after exposing alleged abuse, malpractice, and sexual assault at a women’s hospital in Alexandria. Omnia Swaydan, who trained at the obstetrics and gynecology department of a university hospital in the city, detailed these abuses in a social media post on Monday. Following her revelations, other women came forward with comparable accounts, including claims of botched surgeries carried out under unsanitary conditions.

Authorities detained Swaydan at her home in Damanhour, near Alexandria, around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. She appeared in court the following day, facing charges related to spreading false news and misusing social media platforms. Her lawyer, Mohamed Ramadan, said she was released on bail set at 20,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately £303). If formally charged, Swaydan could face imprisonment.

The arrest has drawn condemnation from Egyptian human rights organizations. Women’s rights advocate Lobna Darwish described obstetric violence as a widespread problem in Egypt. She criticized the government’s approach, saying it often treats matters that stimulate public concern as security threats. Darwish pointed to the numerous testimonies surfacing online from women who have experienced abuse during childbirth as evidence of a systemic crisis in maternal care.