Latest news with #AhmadBaker
Middle East Eye
19-06-2025
- Health
- Middle East Eye
Palestinian NHS nurse takes legal action over rebuke for 'antisemitic' watermelon video call
A British-Palestinian NHS nurse is taking legal action against the UK health body after managers ordered him to remove a watermelon image used as his video call background. Ahmad Baker's employers at Whipps Cross Hospital in London said the image of the fruit could be considered as antisemitic, The Guardian reported on Thursday. According to the newspaper, Baker and two other employees said a ban on NHS employees displaying political or national symbols is discriminatory. They said the Barts Health NHS trust, which administers the hospital, had expressed solidarity with Ukraine after its invasion by Russia. "Being told that a still-life painting containing a watermelon could be perceived as antisemitic and being threatened with disciplinary action is deeply upsetting," Baker said. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The watermelon has become a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, as it shares its colours with the Palestinian flag and is harder for social media algorithms to censor. However, since the 7 October 2023 attacks by Palestinian fighters on southern Israel and the subsequent Israeli war on Gaza, there has been widespread censorship of Palestinian symbols within western institutions. Such symbols are claimed to be antisemitic by supporters of Israel, an accusation dismissed by supporters of the Palestinian cause as an attempt to conflate criticism of Israel with hatred of Jewish people. 'Shut up and fall in line': Israel, Palestine and the dawn of a new censorship in western art Read More » In October 2023, Middle East Eye reported that NHS staff were fearful of expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause, even in their personal lives, because of potential repercussions from managers. Medical workers said the threats of being referred to the General Medical Council, the government's Prevent anti-terrorism strategy, intimidation from the media and statements made by British politicians made them hesitant to speak up. Many of those who spoke to MEE say the intimidation began when a social media account called @NHSWATCH1948 emerged and began urging people to report any healthcare workers who posted anything pro-Palestine. Mohamed Amir, a Palestinian origin doctor working for the NHS, said he noticed a difference in the way staff were allowed to express views on the conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine. "If you look at it relative to the Ukraine war, it makes you wonder why Palestine is seen as so controversial, because we've had fundraisers at the front of the hospital raising money for Ukraine, and our screensavers had a pro-Ukraine image," Amir said.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Senior NHS nurse who was told to remove 'anti-Semitic fruit bowl' from video call background launches legal action
A British-Palestinian NHS nurse who says he was told to remove a background on his video calls because it could be perceived as 'anti Semitic' has launched legal action against his employer. Ahmad Baker, a senior nurse, claims hospital bosses complained about the image of a fruit bowl containing watermelons - which have been adopted as a symbol of Palestine. Barts Health NHS trust, which runs Whipps Cross hospital in north London where Mr Baker works, has banned staff from displaying symbols seen as politically or nationally affiliated. The ban was introduced in March this year and applies to uniform, workstations, laptops and iPads. However, Mr Baker and two other members of staff have argued that the measures are disproportionate and discriminatory to those with pro-Palestinian beliefs. He claims he was threatened with disciplinary action for displaying the watermelon symbols on his wallpaper as they could be seen as 'anti Semitic'. Mr Baker told The Guardian: 'As a Palestinian, I should be able to express my identity and solidarity with my people, especially during a humanitarian crisis. 'Being told that a still-life painting containing a watermelon could be perceived as antisemitic and being threatened with disciplinary action is deeply upsetting. 'I've worked for the NHS for over a decade – this is not the inclusivity I thought we stood for.' Mr Baker has launched the legal action alongside other trust employees Dr Aarash Saleh, a respiratory consultant at Whipps Cross, and Dr Sara Ali, a haematology registrar. The group is arguing that the policy amounts to indirect discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 and is disproportionate to those with pro-Palestinian beliefs. They have also pointed to the fact that Barts Health NHS trust has openly supported Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The group have started a CrowdJustice page to help them raise money to fight the case. More than £16,000 has already been raised of a £50,000 target. On the page they wrote: This legal case is about how senior executives at Barts Health NHS Trust have imposed a new uniform policy to ban any visible expressions of support for Palestinians as they suffer unprecedented potentially amounting to a genocide. 'Barts Health's decision has followed direct pressure from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), a pro-Israel lobby group. 'Please support us in opposing this discriminatory policy which contravenes NHS core values and basic rights of expression.' A spokesperson for Barts Health NHS trust said: 'We recognise the distress that global conflict has for our diverse workforce and continue to support their wellbeing as they serve our patients. 'However, as an NHS organisation our primary responsibility is care for patients.'
The Guardian
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
NHS nurse ordered to remove ‘antisemitic' video of watermelon launches legal action
A senior NHS nurse who says he was ordered to remove his video with a background showing a fruit bowl containing a watermelon because it could be perceived as antisemitic has launched legal action against his employer. Ahmad Baker, who is British-Palestinian and works at Whipps Cross hospital, north London, is one of three medical staff claiming Barts Health NHS trust's ban on staff displaying symbols perceived as politically or nationally affiliated is disproportionate and discriminatory. Watermelons became symbols of Palestine amid censorship of the Palestinian flag because of its similar colours. Barts, which runs five London hospitals, introduced the ban in March in its updated uniform and dress code policy, which extends to items on workstations, laptops and iPads, even if staff are working from home and not seeing patients. The policy says it is in keeping with the trust's responsibility to be 'completely apolitical and non-biased in our care', but the claimants point to Barts' support for Ukraine. Baker said: 'As a Palestinian, I should be able to express my identity and solidarity with my people, especially during a humanitarian crisis. Being told that a still-life painting containing a watermelon could be perceived as antisemitic and being threatened with disciplinary action is deeply upsetting. 'I've worked for the NHS for over a decade – this is not the inclusivity I thought we stood for.' Baker, along with Dr Aarash Saleh, a respiratory consultant at Whipps Cross, and Dr Sara Ali, a haematology registrar who previously worked at the Royal London hospital, claim the policy amounts to indirect discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, disproportionately affecting staff who wish to express pro-Palestinian beliefs, particularly considering events in Gaza. They also say that it say it unlawfully discriminates against them because of their anti-Zionist views, which were found to be a protected belief under the Equality Act by an employment tribunal last year. Baker has also raised separate claims of direct discrimination and harassment. Ali said: 'To suggest that expressing support for the Palestinians who are facing one of the most catastrophic humanitarian crises in recent history is somehow threatening, after the trust had rightly expressed support for Ukraine, is not only manifestly discriminatory but is antithetical to the values of universal empathy and compassion that underpin our practice as healthcare workers.' A letter before action sent on behalf of the healthcare staff by Liana Wood from the law firm Leigh Day also argues that there was 'inappropriate consultation' with a pro-Israel advocacy group, while sidelining internal staff voices. UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), having complained to the trust about pro-Palestinian symbols worn by staff, published an article on its website about the new policy eight days before it was officially implemented. Saleh said: 'It's especially troubling that UKLFI publicly announced the policy before the trust itself had communicated it to staff – this raises serious concerns about transparency and whose voices were prioritised in the process.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The medics, who are crowdfunding their legal costs on the CrowdJustice platform, are seeking the removal of key provisions of the policy, a declaration from the employment tribunal that discrimination has taken place, and compensation for injury to feelings they have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the policy. Wood said: 'Trusts must take care not to impose disproportionate restrictions on expression, especially where those restrictions appear to be targeted at a specific group or belief.' A spokesperson for Barts said: 'We recognise the distress that global conflict has for our diverse workforce and continue to support their wellbeing as they serve our patients. However, as an NHS organisation our primary responsibility is care for patients.' They said the policy aimed to 'uphold political neutrality, creating an inclusive culture at work, and a safe space for patients in their time of need'.
