Doctor sues NHS after being suspended mid-shift over 'vile social media posts'

A doctor has sued the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust after being suspended mid-shift over anti-Israel social media posts.

Dr Nadeem Crowe posted comments on his personal X account describing Hamas as "freedom fighters" and labelling Israel and its military as "terrorists," a central London employment tribunal heard on Tuesday.

The physician was removed from duty at the Royal Free Hospital in Camden during August 2024 following a complaint from a colleague about his online remarks.

Dr Crowe contends he was subjected to harassment and discrimination by the trust and its responsible officer, Dr Jane Hawdon, due to his anti-Zionist stance.

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Among the posts highlighted during tribunal proceedings, Dr Crowe accused Israel of having a "rapist, baby killing, murderous army".

He also wrote: "This Palestinian Holocaust is written in to Israeli and Jewish history books for forever."

In another message, he said: "Israeli facts are always lies. Sure call Hamas terrorists but understand this Israel and Zionism is the largest terrorist network the world has ever seen."

The doctor also shared content from another user declaring: "We must dismantle Zionism as we did Nazism, because it is clear that they are bedfellows."

A Royal Free staff member, whose identity has remained anonymous throughout the proceedings, reported the posts on August 13 2024, describing them as "absolutely vile" and antisemitic.

When asked to explain his understanding of Zionism during Tuesday's hearing, Dr Crowe described it as "the formation of a state for the Jewish under the ideation of a political movement that is shielding under the terms of Judaism and the Jewish people being a monolith."

His time living in the Middle East shaped his belief that Zionism is achieved through "impunity in terms of international law, and extreme violence."

The doctor was not initially told why he had been suspended.

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"I felt like my soul had been ripped out," he told the panel, explaining he feared he might have harmed a patient.

He described his legs shaking and being unable to form sentences.

Jude Shepherd, representing the trust and Dr Hawdon, told the tribunal: "The respondents' primary case is that there was no disciplinary action."

Dr Crowe's suspension was communicated on August 14, pending a meeting, and lifted two days later after he removed the posts from his account.

He returned to work the following day but has alleged Dr Hawdon pressured him to delete his social media content or face a full investigation.

The doctor said he lost trust in his colleagues and felt unable to continue at the hospital, not knowing who had reported him.

He has been absent due to illness since August 25 2024, and submitted a grievance that remains unanswered.

The tribunal continues on Wednesday.

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