An NHS junior doctor who reportedly called for Jihad on the streets of London and praised armed Palestinian fighters has been arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred.
Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, 31, who is training to become a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, was held days before a hearing on whether she is fit to practise.
In a video of her arrest in south Gloucestershire posted on social media by supporters, a Metropolitan Police officer tells Aladwan the offences related to a speech at a pro-Gaza protest “which amounted to calls for the eradication of Israel and implied support for all those involved in armed resistance against Israel, including organisations such as Hamas”.
She is also being investigated by the General Medical Council over her social media posts.
A hearing on the case is due to take place on Thursday.
Sigh, today's arrest confirms what they're persecuting us for saying:
— Dr Rahmeh Aladwan (@doctor_rahmeh) October 21, 2025
Britain is not sovereign.
We are occupied and being made into a joke for the 'israeli' jewish lobby.
Thank you all for your support. More details soon. They tried to intimidate us—do we look intimidated? pic.twitter.com/v4EzBWLoby
The officer adds: “On October 7, you posted a variety of communications which demonstrated support for Hamas’s attack on Israel, an attack which involved murder, rape and kidnap of Israeli citizens, all of which may be considered grossly offensive in character.”
Aladwan has previously said: “As a Palestinian, I have lost dozens of friends and family members in Gaza. I will not be silenced for expressing my grief and my opposition to war crimes.”
Scotland Yard said: “On the morning of Tuesday, October 21 officers arrested a 31-year-old woman at an address in South Gloucestershire.
“The woman was arrested on suspicion of misusing a public communications network, sending malicious communications and stirring up racial hatred.
“The arrests relate to an ongoing investigation, led by the Met's Public Order Crime Team, into allegations that comments made at a protest and online in recent months were grossly offensive and antisemitic in nature.
“She was taken into police custody where she was interviewed before being released on bail.”
