A former midwife can take her ex-employer to an employment tribunal over a referral to the counter-terrorism programme Prevent.
Fatimah Mohamied alleges Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (CWFT) discriminated against her because of her race and pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist beliefs.
The trust referred her to the government programme Prevent and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in March 2025, following a complaint about what she was sharing online by lobbying group UK lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).
During a hearing in September, Judge Timothy Clive Adkin ruled the trust couldn’t use legal protection to stop Mohamied’s claim over the Prevent referral from going ahead.
However, the judge ruled the trust was legally protected from being sued over the separate referral to the NMC.
The tribunal has not yet decided whether the Prevent referral was discriminatory. The case is expected to proceed to a full hearing in 2028.
Mohamied, a Muslim of Egyptian and Bengali heritage, worked for the trust from 2019 until she resigned in March 2024.
She says the referrals amounted to discrimination and harassment because of her race and beliefs and alleges the complaint about her social media activity included racist stereotypes about muslims and people of colour.
Mohamied said: ‘I am pleased Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust will continue to be held accountable for referring me to Prevent. NHS Trusts must learn that advocating against genocide, occupation, ethnic cleansing and apartheid is central to a healthcare worker’s role.
‘My case is a prime example of Prevent referrals being weaponised against Muslims and people of colour to destabilise their careers and families, as punishment for their Palestinian advocacy and criticism of Zionism.
‘NHS staff should be safeguarded from what I believe are silencing tactics of UKLFI, to speak freely on the ongoing genocide and destruction of life, health, and dignity in Palestine.’
Mohamied is represented by Liana Wood, partner and employment solicitor at Leigh Day.
Wood said: ‘We welcome the Tribunal’s confirmation that that an employer cannot automatically rely on privilege or judicial proceedings immunity as a litigation shield where a decision to refer an employee or in this case ex-employee to Prevent is alleged to be discriminatory.
‘Our client’s case will proceed to a final hearing, and our client will make her case that she was subject to discrimination and harassment by CWFT.’
Image: Phil Hearing/UnSplash
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