UK doctor suspended for sending Islamophobic messages to colleague

A UK medical tribunal has suspended a doctor for making “deplorable” Islamophobic comments about a Muslim colleague.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) imposed a four-month suspension on Cinderella Nonoo-Cohen for messages sent in a WhatsApp group more than two years ago.

The comments were made in response to a post about the Gaza conflict.

The tribunal ruled that the messages were “objectively” Islamophobic and “seriously offensive.” It also found that Nonoo-Cohen had tried to portray her colleague, Dr Roghieh Dehghan, as antisemitic and supportive of Hamas, which it said worsened the seriousness of her misconduct.

The incident began when Dr. Dehghan shared a post in the group urging colleagues to consider signing a petition opposing the British government’s support for Israel.

Nonoo-Cohen, a member of the European Jewish Parliament and a doctor in north London, replied: “You should not bring politics to this group. I’m disappointed in you as a doctor.

Get your facts straight first. Typical of you Muslims to gaslight.”Dr Dehghan contacted the group admin, describing the comments as Islamophobic.

Nonoo-Cohen then responded by calling Dr Dehghan antisemitic and accusing her of “spreading lies about the hospital bomb, which Hamas inflicted on themselves.” This referred to the October 2023 explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.

The tribunal concluded that Nonoo-Cohen’s actions amounted to serious professional misconduct. During cross-examination, she could not explain why she had used the term “Muslims” in her message.

While the tribunal found the remark demonstrated racial hostility, it did not rule that she was motivated by racial or religious prejudice.

The British Islamic Medical Association welcomed the decision.

“Healthcare workers across the world were bearing witness to what is now widely confirmed as a genocide, including by UN experts, human rights organisations, and genocide scholars,” it said.

“Speaking out in that context, calling for a ceasefire, or attending a demonstration, is not provocation, but a human act of conscience.”

The ruling comes as new rules introduced by the Department of Health are expected to make it easier for medical regulators to suspend or strike off doctors accused of antisemitism or racism in connection with pro-Palestine views.

In recent months, the UK has also introduced stricter measures against the Palestine Action group and activists protesting what they describe as Israeli actions in Gaza.

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