Doctor Blames “Jewish Lobby” After Being Suspended for Antisemitic Conduct

A UK medical tribunal has suspended Dr Rahmeh Aladwan for 15 months after ruling that her repeated antisemitic and extremist posts on social media represented a serious breach of professional standards and created a high risk of further misconduct. Aladwan, a trainee in trauma and orthopaedics, appeared before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) after being referred by the General Medical Council (GMC) to assess her fitness to practise, reports The Jerusalem Post.

During the hearing, GMC legal counsel Emma Gilsenan presented a risk assessment showing that Aladwan had repeatedly published posts that “justify terrorism, deny sexual violence, include antisemitic conspiracy theories, misuse Holocaust and Nazi imagery, and express support for proscribed groups and terrorists [including 7 October].” Gilsenan also highlighted a series of posts made after her interim tribunal on 25 September, including comments about the 2 October attack on a Manchester synagogue, which she said demonstrated an escalation in tone and hostility.

Gilsenan told the panel that “it is unconscionable to consider that Aladwan should be permitted to continue to practise,” emphasising that Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights does not protect the right to publish antisemitic statements. She further argued that Aladwan’s pattern of abusive and inflammatory online behaviour breached GMC guidelines on responsible social media use.

Aladwan’s defence claimed there was “not a shred of evidence” that her views had affected patient safety or her clinical performance. Her counsel alleged that the case reflected pressure from “lobbying groups who want to suppress Palestinians’ criticisms of Israel,” and insisted that her posts amounted to “legitimate political speech.” He argued that her comments about “Jewish supremacism” were directed at Zionism, not Jews, and therefore fell under protected political expression.

The tribunal rejected this argument, concluding that Aladwan’s statements went far beyond political commentary and amounted to antisemitic abuse. It further noted a “high risk of re-offending,” as she continued to post inflammatory material despite warnings and continued to deny wrongdoing, indicating a lack of “sufficient insight.” On this basis, the panel imposed a 15-month suspension.

Shortly after the decision, Aladwan responded on social media by blaming the “Israeli and Jewish lobby” for determining “who can and cannot practise medicine in Britain.” She continued posting claims about “Jewish supremacy” and argued she could not be antisemitic because “Palestinians are Semites.”

UK Lawyers for Israel, which first raised concerns in 2024, welcomed the outcome and said it had long been troubled by Aladwan’s “repeated use of antisemitic tropes, extremist rhetoric, and posts appearing to praise terrorist violence.” The group called her conduct “wholly incompatible with the standards expected of a medical professional in the United Kingdom.” Campaign Against Antisemitism also endorsed the ruling, noting that Aladwan had been “on an unapologetic crusade to harass the Jewish community,” and stating: “It is inconceivable that a Jewish person would feel safe receiving treatment from this doctor.”