LONDON – A British-Palestinian junior doctor, Dr. Rahmeh Aladwan, was arrested on Oct. 21 on suspicion of three counts of malicious communications and one count of inciting racial hatred, British media and police statements reported. The arrest occurred days before she was due to appear at a fresh medical tribunal.
Video footage circulated online shows a female Metropolitan Police officer telling Aladwan she was under arrest for “malicious communications times three, and for inciting racial hatred,” citing Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act and Section 127 of the Communications Act, which covers misuse of public communications networks. Aladwan posted the footage herself.
Police said the arrest followed material posted on social media and comments made at public demonstrations. Authorities have linked the content under investigation to alleged support for the October 7, 2023, attacks and to language critics call antisemitic. The Metropolitan Police public order crime team is leading the probe and has described the matter as part of an ongoing investigation.
Aladwan is a trainee in trauma and orthopaedic surgery who previously gained national attention for a string of inflammatory remarks and social media posts. She has been accused of describing the United Kingdom as “controlled by Jewish supremacy,” calling parts of the health service a “Jewish supremacy cesspit,” and dismissing the Holocaust as a “concept,” according to coverage by British and Jewish community outlets.
Her case has already drawn regulatory scrutiny. The General Medical Council opened investigations after complaints about her comments. In late September, a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing declined to suspend her pending further review, prompting criticism from advocacy groups that represent Jewish communities, which argued patient safety and the public interest warranted stronger interim action.
Critics say Aladwanโs rhetoric extends beyond legitimate political protest. Reports cite speeches at pro-Palestine demonstrations in which she reportedly praised armed fighters and used language that, according to detractors, amounted to glorification of violence and calls for the dismantling of Israel. Those statements are part of what police investigators are examining amid allegations of incitement.
Supporters of Aladwan have portrayed the arrest as politically motivated and defended her right to free expression on political matters. Legal representatives have argued that previous tribunals found some of her social media posts did not meet the threshold for professional sanction. Aladwan has denied criminal wrongdoing and has questioned the timing of the arrest, given her upcoming tribunal.
Jewish community organizations and patient-safety advocates say the arrest underscores broader concerns about antisemitic rhetoric and its impact on communities and public institutions. They point to a pattern of incidents in which medical professionals or public figures have made statements that community groups view as hostile or threatening to Jews. Campaigners urged investigators and regulators to act decisively to protect patients and to uphold professional standards.
Police custody and regulatory processes are continuing. The Metropolitan Police said the matter remains under active investigation and that arrests do not imply guilt. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service and the General Medical Council confirmed ongoing procedures, and further hearings are expected. Observers said the case will be closely watched for its legal and professional implications as well as its resonance with debates over antisemitism and free speech in the United Kingdom.
This article is based on verified information from The Times, The Telegraph, The Jerusalem Post, The BMJ, The Jewish Chronicle, and Algemeiner.