A family GP who led a now-proscribed terrorist group and celebrated the Oct 7 Hamas attacks has had his suspension lifted by the NHS.
Dr Wahid Asif Shaida was the chairman of Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir’s UK operation until it was proscribed as a terrorist group by the Home Office on Jan 19.
The GP was then suspended by the NHS, but a panel overturned this decision last week after it determined there was insufficient evidence that he was not fit to practise. An NHS spokesman added that conditions would be imposed “to manage a safe return to practice, for both staff and patients”.
In October, Dr Shaida led anti-Israel protests where there were shouts of “jihad” and he described the Oct 7 massacre as “a welcome punch on the nose”. He previously tried to justify the attempted murder of Sir Salman Rushdie.
Dr Shaida stepped back from his role as chairman of the UK executive committee of Hizb ut-Tahrir – where he used the pseudonym Abdul Wahid – after the Government declared it a terrorist organisation with its supporters facing up to 14 years in prison.
An NHS England panel heard that Dr Shaida had not had any involvement with the terror group since its proscription.
‘Fitness to practise concerns’
The General Medical Council (GMC) never suspended or removed Dr Shaida’s licence to practise, leaving him free to work privately, but previously said his association with an organisation that “supports anti-Semitic beliefs and encouraged acts of terrorism… does raise potential fitness to practise concerns”.
It had said investigations were ongoing but the GP is still on the medical register, paving his way to return to work.
He had worked as a family doctor in Harrow, north London, for more than 20 years at the GP Direct surgery until his suspension.
Dr Shaida was able to fundraise more than £51,000 to get “legal assistance” in his case, and was represented by Rahman Lowe Solicitors who declared “victory” for him on Monday.
‘Strong beliefs’
In a statement, it said Dr Shaida “has never hidden his political affiliation” and “has sincerely held strong beliefs regarding the occupation of Palestine”.
“NHS England’s Panel determined that there was insufficient evidence to warrant removal on either suitability or efficiency grounds,” Rahman Lowe said. “The Panel accepted that Dr Shaida does not condone violence and his posts were made in the heat of the news feeds he was receiving.”
Hizb ut-Tahrir was founded in 1953 and operates in at least 32 countries including the UK, United States, Canada and Australia. It seeks to establish a caliphate ruled under Islamic law.
In the days after Hamas gunmen massacred more than 1,200 Israelis on Oct 7, Hizb ut-Tahrir’s Facebook page praised the attack as having “ignited a wave of joy and elation among Muslims globally”.
Using his pseudonym, Dr Shaida addressed a rally outside the Egyptian and Turkish embassies in London during which he told the crowd: “Victory is coming and everyone has to choose a side. Whose side are you going to be on?”
He has denied that the Hizb ut-Tahrir group is extremist, saying the word is used as a “pejorative term”.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on 12 Aug 2022, the day Rushdie was stabbed more than a dozen times at a US book festival, Dr Shaida said of the prophet Mohammed: “The extent of the love of Muslims worldwide for the Messenger of Allah cannot be explained or quantified... I doubt you will find anyone who loves him feeling sympathy for someone who insulted him.”
‘Professional conduct’
A spokesman for NHS London said: “We take any issues relating to professional conduct seriously and have procedures in place to make sure that individuals are fit to work in the NHS.
“Following a thorough investigation, the evidence regarding Dr Shaida’s conduct and practice was considered by an NHS England panel at an oral hearing on 11 July, in accordance with regulations and published policy. No evidence was found that he has had involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir since the organisation was proscribed.
“The panel found there was insufficient evidence to warrant removing Dr Shaida from the performers’ list, but decided that conditions should be imposed, to manage a safe return to practice, for both staff and patients. Dr Shaida is therefore able to return to practice, subject to those conditions.”
