Doctor who led Islamist group still free to practise, admits GMC

THE medical regulator has admitted that a doctor who is still free to see patients, despite leading an Islamist group until its ban last month, could damage public faith in the profession.

The General Medical Council (GMC) has launched an investigation into Dr Wahid Shaida after he led protests featuring calls for “jihad” against Israel, The Telegraph can disclose.

Dr Shaida was formerly leader of the UK branch of Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT) until its proscription as a terrorist organisation last month.

The GMC admitted that his freedom to continue practising “does raise potential fitness to practise concerns” and “may affect the public’s perception of the medical profession as a whole”.

Dr Shaida, who chaired HT Britain before its ban by the Government using the name Abdul Wahid, was until recently a GP with Harrow-based practice GP Direct, in north-west London.

He has already been suspended by NHS England, but remains registered with the GMC, meaning he could still practise privately. He is no longer listed on his GP surgery’s website.

Among those raising concerns about Dr Shaida was the National Secular Society (NSS), which complained to the GMC that he had made “extremist comments” appearing to condone the Oct 7 Hamas attack against Israel.

The group said that in a YouTube interview, which has since been removed, Dr Shaida described the attack as giving “the enemy a punch on the nose, all right, and it’s a very welcome punch on the nose”.

Dr Shaida addressed a rally outside the Egyptian and Turkish embassies in London shortly after the attacks during which he told the crowd: “Victory is coming and everyone has to choose a side. Whose side are you going to be on?”

A video clip showed people in the crowd chanting “Jihad! Jihad! Jihad!” after the speeches. The Met found no offences were identified in the clip.

In an email to the NSS on Feb 8, the GMC’s enquiries team said: “The concerns you have raised can be summarised as the doctor is leading and/or involved in an organisation which supports anti-Semitic beliefs and encouraged acts of terrorism.

“This does raise potential fitness to practise concerns and in the GMC’s view, may affect the public’s perception of the medical profession as a whole.”

It added: “We can confirm that we are considering these under our procedures.”

In its complaint, the NSS had also warned the GMC on Jan 23 that Dr Shaida appeared to justify the attempted murder of Sir Salman Rushdie at a US book festival.

Sir Salman was left blind in his right eye and has a damaged left hand as a result of the attack.

A man has been charged with attempted murder and assault.

A GMC spokesman said: “We are fully aware of the concerns that have been raised regarding Dr Wahid Asif Shaida, and are looking into this as a matter of urgency.”

Dr Shaida has been approached for comment.