Legal Action against the General Medical Council (GMC)

Overview

I have initiated legal proceedings against the GMC at the High Court of Justice for unlawfully suspending me for 18 months for exercising my freedom of expression and opposing the Palestinian Holocaust.

My name is Dr Rehiana Ali. I am a Cambridge educated Consultant Neurologist with a PhD from Imperial College London in the Neurosciences. I have been a UK medical doctor for over 20 years and a Consultant since November 2016. I have never had any patient complaints and have nothing but an exemplary record.

When Hamas broke the illegal 17-year siege on Gaza and Israel used this as a pretext to commence the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, I used my social media account on X (formerly Twitter) @rehiana1980 to raise awareness of the live Holocaust.

In July 2024, I stood as an Independent Parliamentary Candidate in Bradford South and secured 10.1% of the electoral vote in 5 weeks on a ‘It should be Britain First not Israel First’ platform.

This got me the attention of the Israeli lobbies prevalent in the UK.

Three complaints by these lobbies had been dismissed as “not meeting the threshold for investigation” by the GMC. So, in November 2024, these lobbies ramped up the pressure in a coordinated campaign. A fourth complaint now was lodged at the GMC on 3 November 2024 by an anonymous Jewish doctor - a political Zionist with ties to the Community Security Trust and possibly the Jewish Medical Association, several defamatory articles appeared in pro-Israeli press over the next few weeks with the Jewish News and the Telegraph submitting their “articles” to the GMC and demanding they investigate me. The Jewish Chronicle - as is typical of their tawdry “journalism” - also published a highly distorted piece. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary who has taken over £30 000 from Israeli lobbyists, intervened.

On 20 December 2024 I was suspended – in my absence - for 18-months by the Interim Orders Tribunal (IOT) for allegations of “anti-semitism” whilst the GMC “investigated”. In other words, I am not suspended because I have been found guilty of any wrongdoing.

I believe I am the only doctor thus far to have been given this draconian punishment because I refused to buckle.

I am challenging this political suspension in the High Court. As detailed below, I have been obstructed by legal firms who want to gate-keep the parameters of free speech and by my own indemnity body, MDDUS.

I have a very strong case on a number of fronts including abuse of process by the GMC/IOT as well as under Case Law. I was not suspended for any patient safety concerns but “in the public interest”. In fact, the GMC concedes there are no concerns about patients at all. So, it seems this suspension is nothing more than to pander to the Israeli lobbies and in the interest of the “Israeli public”. The Counsel stated that he “could not get purchase” on how the IOT came to suspend me let alone for 18 months!

I will be representing myself so I am only looking to cover costs of the application, the hearing and in the worst-case scenario costs of the other side – though that should not happen given the strength of my case.

I have therefore set the amount as £7 000 – any amount unused will be donated to a Palestinian Charity. If I win my costs back, I will donate everything to the Children of Gaza.

I don’t believe the GMC – the regulator for British doctors - should be doing the work of the Israeli lobbies. I don’t believe Israeli or Jewish organisations in the UK with loyalty to Israel have any right to bully and harass UK citizens. The GMC should not be persecuting medical professionals for exercising free speech and upholding the Hippocratic Oath.

This suspension sets a dangerous precedent for silencing dissenting voices.

If you agree, then I would appreciate your support in sending a very strong message to the GMC – so that they think twice before they bully another doctor over their Free Speech.

Detailed Background:

1. In July 2024, I stood as an Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Bradford South on an anti-Israel platform calling for an end to the Palestinian Holocaust, banning the Israeli lobbies from the UK and advocating for a ‘First Amendment’ equivalent. My slogan ‘It should be Britain First not Israel First’ - won 10.1% of the vote in 5 weeks.

2. I learnt that Gnasherjew – a pro-Israel group - were encouraging people to report me to the GMC and the counter-terrorism police for my anti-Israel posts. In June 2024 I received a letter from the GMC stating that they had received a complaint from UKLFI (Lawyers For Israel). The GMC stated that the concerns raised “do not meet our threshold for investigation therefore we have not opened a case.”

3. During the election the Jewish Medical Association (JMA) submitted a complaint to the GMC that I should not be using the word ‘Holocaust’ – it too was dismissed by the GMC as not meeting their threshold for an investigation. A further complaint by the JMA was dismissed in August 2024.

4. In early November 2024: South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust (STSFT) cancelled my clinics without warning.

5. A number of defamatory and misleading articles appeared in the Jewish Chronicle 7 November 2024 by Jane Prinsley, a Jewish woman who has links and family in Israel, in Jewish News 8 November 2024 by Michelle Rosenberg, and then in the Telegraph on 19 November 2024 by George Chesterton who is married to a Jewish woman and is raising his children in the Jewish faith.

6. On 3 December 2024 my contract with Medinet (a medical locum company) was cancelled - I had been working via Medinet since 2018. Please note this too was before any suspension.

7. Other articles appeared in the Telegraph and Wes Streeting met with Jewish groups demanding the NHS clamps down on what they perceived to be “anti-semitism” (translated into criticism of Israel) and sack doctors/other healthcare workers.

8. On 28 November 2024 I received emails from the GMC containing the Interim Orders Tribunal (IOT) referral letter (on public interest grounds), a complaint by a Jewish doctor with name redacted - he/she sent a 39-page document called the Translate Hate Glossary from the American Jewish Committee of all words/expressions considered “anti-semitic” and clearly showing he/she was linked to the Community Security Trust (CST). Other complaints had been submitted by the Jewish News and Telegraph.

9. On 3 December 2024, I spoke to the GMC – the Investigator admitted in this recorded (by agreement) conversation that I was under investigation for my “anti-Israel” posts.

10. The GMC was emailed with my letter of concern dated 4 December 2024 – there has still been no real response to the questions.

11. I suggested a hearing in early January 2025 to allow me time to complete the clinics I had committed to, find legal representation (given the holiday season) and have reasonable time to prepare. My request was refused.

12. On 14 and 19 December 2024 – 2 further articles in Telegraph mentioning me.

13. On 16 December 2024 – article in Jerusalem Post about me.

14. The IOT suspends me “in the public interest” – for 18 months pending an investigation - on 20 December 2024 – having denied me an opportunity to attend given my brother’s assassination case in Pakistan and clinic commitments. Please note the IOT does not make a finding of fact. It is accepted that the allegations are unproven. This 18-month suspension is unheard of.

15. Almost 200 BRITISH Neurology patients had to be cancelled – some of whom had been waiting 12 – 18 months to be seen by a Neurologist.

16. On obtaining the transcript, I saw that the GMC counsel had not even been requesting a suspension and nor had this even been discussed – the 3-member panel return from (private) deliberations and hand down a suspension.

17. There was jubilation in the Jewish and pro-Israel press with further articles including in the Jerusalem Post – with each lobby taking credit for my suspension.

18. I received abuse and harassment on X from Jewish extremists including death threats.

19. I contacted the indemnity body who advised I had two options – either High Court or to seek an ‘early hearing’ from the GMC. I was advised – badly - that the ‘Earlier hearing’ would be quicker.

20. On 15 February 2025 the Jewish journalist Sabrina Miller of Daily Mail published a piece accusing me and other doctors of “anti-semitism”.

21. On 8 February 2025 a petition to reinstate me to the medical register was started on citizengo: https://citizengo.org/en-row/ot/14880-Calling-for-the-GMC-to-reinstate-Dr-Rehiana-Ali-to-the-Medical-Register

22. The GMC rejected the Early Hearing request on 6 March 2025 again denying me an opportunity to be heard.

23. A High Court application and crowdfunder is set up to challenge the unlawful suspension.

What did my tweets say?

Simply what I believed. I believe that Israel has no right to exist on Palestinian land. I was one of the first to correctly call the mass slaughter a ‘Holocaust’ and I reject that Palestinian Resistance (armed or otherwise) is terrorism. I opposed the Israeli lobby influence in the UK and elsewhere – no British Patriot should accept that Sovereignty of their country should be violated by a foreign lobby yet 25% of UK MPs accept funding from the Israeli lobby.

Why is this case so important?

The GMC should not be restricting the speech of doctors speaking out against Israel’s war crimes. The GMC has been steadily encroaching on the freedom of speech of doctors since Covid-19 where doctors have had conditions on their license, been suspended and even struck off. So far, nobody has taken them on. The GMC is there to protect the public from unsafe doctors not to gag whistle-blowers or doctors of conscience. The ultimate red line, given my case, seems to be Israel because I was suspended by an Interim Orders Tribunal that does not make a finding on fact.

This case is about more than just me - it's about protecting everyone's right to speak freely without retribution. The outcome could influence how professional bodies regulate speech and respond to external pressures.

What help have I had?

Individually, the public has been supportive and outraged by the GMC’s actions. I am grateful to Richie Allen, UnityNewsNet, Hoz Shafei, StreetMike, Crispin Flintoff, The Pulse Today and Deep Dive Perspective for hosting me. However, many allegedly pro-Palestinian groups – including the “alternative media” have remained quiet – I don’t believe they have a right to gate-keep discussions on Israel or on Israeli lobby influence in the UK. I am not obliged to accept their parameters relating to “Zionism” – I believe that talking about Jewish Supremacy and extremism and the role of Israeli lobbies in the UK and elsewhere help our understanding of why there’s a live Holocaust with the World watching in silence.

Many Muslim groups, lawyers and media/podcasters have cowered in the shadows. Others have quoted eye wateringly high fees even for initial assessments.

Those claiming they’re Free Speech Absolutists – such as the ‘Free Speech Union’ which I approached – are anything but.

Why aren’t I using a lawyer?

I had my indemnity body but it too is heavily “establishment” – it has spent almost 4 months wasting time and giving me bad advice despite Counsel admitting that it "could not get purchase” of why I was suspended. After initially discussing the High Court action, it suggested I ask first for an Earlier review – rejected by the GMC. Instead of supporting its paying member on taking now this outrageous suspension and subsequent unreasonable refusal by the GMC to the High Court, it thinks I should remain suspended– until the next review hearing!

Given the moral cowardice of many – a “case of all talk but no walk” – I will be litigant in person.

I should never have been suspended. I broke no law and I am not guilty of any wrongdoing. This was nothing but a mendacious attack by the Israeli lobbies on a UK doctor rightfully exercising her free speech.

I believe that it’s important to challenge this unlawful suspension – they shouldn’t be allowed to get away with such abuse of process. Nothing will change unless good people stand up to these corrupt organisations – but even more so, against the lobbies who are acting for a foreign entity.

Given what we are seeing in Palestine, I say that now is not the time for moral cowardice.

What am I asking you to do?

1. If you can help financially, please consider donating to this crowdfunder

2. Please share the crowdfunder with family and friends

3. Follow me @rehiana1980

4. Please sign and share the petition https://citizengo.org/en-row/ot/14880-Calling-for-the-GMC-to-reinstate-Dr-Rehiana-Ali-to-the-Medical-Register

*********Palestine Will Be Free From The River to the Sea*********