Delegates at the British Medical Association’s annual conference hold signs condemning the Egyptian military’s recent attacks on democracy: “No to the military coup” “We stand in solidarity with the Egyptian revolution” “Down with military rule”

شارك عشرات من مندوبون للمؤتمر السنوي لنقابة الأطباء في بريطانيا في وقفة إحتجاجية تضامناً مع الثورة المصرية وطالبوا بإلغاء بعد القرارات الحديثة التي إصدرها المجلس العسكري في مصر وبينها إصدرا الإعلان الدستوري المكمل وحل مجلس الشعب إعلان الضبطية القضائية ويعتبرأنها “محاولات لإلغاء مكاسب الثورة” ويؤكد أيضاً المندوبون تضامنهم مع النضال من أجل العدالة الإجتماعية في مصر وخاصةً مع النقابات المستقلة.

Dozens of delegates to the British Medical Association’s annual conference joined forces in solidarity with the Egyptian revolution, and to condemn recent attacks on democracy by the Military Council including the dissolution of parliament, the announcement of a consitutional decree which strips the elected president of most of his powers, and new laws allowing the military police to arrest civilians.

Delegates also signed the following statement

Statement: No to the military coup in Egypt

We note with grave concern recent developments in Egypt including the decision on 14 June 2012 by the Higher Constitutional Court to dissolve parliament and allow the candidate of the old regime, Ahmad Shafiq, to contest the presidential election. The court decision followed the announcement of a law on 13 June 2012 giving military intelligence and police permission to arrest civilians on suspicion of “crimes and misdemeanours harmful to the government,” “resisting orders issued by those in power or assaulting them,” “destruction of public property or historic monuments,” “obstructing traffic,” “strikes at institutions that serve the public interest or assaulting the right to work,” and “intimidation and thuggery.” Then on 17 June the Supreme Council of Armed Forces issued another decree that grants Scaf powers to initiate legislation, control the budget, appoint a panel to draft the new constitution and postponing elections until a new constitution is approved.

This is a military coup designed to wipe out all the gains of the last 18 months. We condemn the assault on democratic freedoms that these decisions represent and declare our support for all Egyptians who are resisting this attempt by the military to restore the old regime.

We also affirm our continued solidarity with the struggle for social justice in Egypt, and in particular with the ongoing efforts to build an independent workers’ movement which can lead the fight for ‘bread, freedom and social justice’. The unity between the social and democratic goals of the revolution which is expressed in this slogan is an inspiration to millions around the world who want to resist the rule of the 1%.

We call on the Egyptian military and civilian authorities to:

• reinstate parliament
• annul the Constitutional Declaration of 17 June
• respect Egyptian citizens’ right to strike, protest and organise independent trade unions

Dr Clive Peedell, Dr Jacky Davis, Co-chairs NHS Consultants Association
Dr Paul Hobday
Dr Jackie Applebee
Dr Wendy Savage, Keep Our NHS Public Chair
Dr Adam Forman
Dr Chris Odedun
Dr Latifa Paul
Dr Gerard Reissman
Dr Amar Latif
Dr Farah Jameel
Dr Natasha Arnold
Dr Coral Jones
Dr Paddy Glackin
Dr Kambiz Boomla
Dr Vishal Sharma

And these medical students, also BMA conference representatives

Khalil Secker
Dilek Tate
Mahdi Abdulla
James Warwick
Samantha Dolan

For a further signatories click here