Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, a 31-year-old NHS doctor from South Gloucestershire, has been remanded in custody after being charged with four counts of inviting support for Hamas and one count of stirring up racial hatred. She was arrested on 26 March 2026 and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 27 March 2026. She has not been convicted of any offence and denies wrongdoing.

What Is Dr Rahmeh Aladwan Charged With?

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan has been charged with four counts of inviting support for a proscribed organisation, specifically Hamas, in breach of the Terrorism Act 2000. The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 23 July and 31 December 2025. She has also been charged with one count of publishing or distributing written material with intent to stir up racial hatred, or with recklessness as to whether racial hatred would be stirred up, in breach of the Public Order Act 1986. The Metropolitan Police’s Public Order Crime Team led the investigation. She was arrested on 26 March 2026 after reportedly breaching bail conditions that had been imposed following previous arrests related to the same investigation. These are charges only — she has not been convicted of any offence and is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Who Is Dr Rahmeh Aladwan?

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan is a 31-year-old British Palestinian doctor employed by the NHS, from Pilning in South Gloucestershire. She is reported to have been an active participant in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and online commentary relating to the conflict in Gaza since October 2023. Her arrest and charging have generated significant public debate about the boundaries of free speech, protest rights, and the application of terrorism legislation in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Hamas is a proscribed organisation under UK law, meaning that expressing support for it in public is a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act 2000. Supporters argue that advocacy for Palestinian rights should not be conflated with support for terrorism, while prosecutors maintain that the charges relate to specific statements and materials rather than general political opinion.

What Does Remanded in Custody Mean?

Being remanded in custody means that a defendant is held in prison while awaiting trial or their next court hearing, rather than being released on bail. A court decides whether to remand a defendant in custody or grant bail based on factors including the seriousness of the alleged offences, the risk of the defendant failing to appear for trial, the risk of interference with witnesses or evidence, and the risk of the defendant committing further offences. In Dr Aladwan’s case, she had reportedly already been on bail and was arrested again for allegedly breaching those conditions, which is likely to have influenced the decision to remand her in custody. Remand in custody is not a punishment — it is a pre-trial measure, and the defendant continues to be presumed innocent unless and until convicted. For information about how remand works and what support is available to those in custody before trial, see our guide to booking a prison visit.

What Is the Offence of Inviting Support for Hamas?

Under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, it is a criminal offence to invite support for a proscribed organisation. Hamas has been a fully proscribed organisation in the United Kingdom since November 2021, when the Home Secretary extended the proscription to cover the organisation’s political wing as well as its military wing. An invitation to support can include verbal statements, social media posts, published articles, chants at demonstrations, or the display of symbols associated with the organisation. The offence is distinct from simply holding political views about the conflict, and prosecutors must prove that the defendant’s conduct crossed the line from political expression into active encouragement of support for the proscribed group. A conviction for this offence can carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years. For more information about how terrorism offences are handled in the UK prison system, visit our page on Category A prisons.

What Happens Next?

Dr Aladwan appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on 27 March 2026 for a first hearing. Cases involving serious terrorism charges are typically sent to the Crown Court for trial, where a jury would decide on the facts. If committed for trial, she would either remain on remand or potentially be granted bail with conditions pending the Crown Court proceedings. Terrorism trials can take many months to come to court from the initial charge stage. If convicted of all charges, she would face a potentially significant custodial sentence, though the specific sentence would depend on the facts found by the jury and the sentencing guidelines applicable to each offence. She maintains her innocence. This case is part of a broader pattern of prosecutions brought under terrorism and public order legislation since October 2023, relating to conduct connected to the conflict in Gaza and the activities of proscribed organisations in the Middle East.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why has Dr Rahmeh Aladwan been remanded in custody?

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan was remanded in custody after being charged with four counts of inviting support for Hamas and one count of stirring up racial hatred. She had previously been arrested on bail conditions, which she is alleged to have breached, and was formally charged on 26 March 2026. She has not been convicted of any offence.

What is Dr Rahmeh Aladwan charged with?

She is charged with four counts of inviting support for a proscribed organisation (Hamas) under the Terrorism Act 2000, and one count of publishing written material intending to stir up racial hatred under the Public Order Act 1986. The alleged offences took place between July and December 2025.

Is Dr Rahmeh Aladwan in prison?

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan was remanded in custody on 26 March 2026, meaning she is being held on remand while awaiting her court hearing. Remand is not a conviction or sentence — she is presumed innocent until and unless a court finds her guilty of the charges against her.

What sentence could Dr Rahmeh Aladwan face?

If convicted of inviting support for a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000, she could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The actual sentence, if any, would depend on the specific facts found by the court and the applicable sentencing guidelines. She denies the charges.

What does it mean to invite support for Hamas in the UK?

Under the Terrorism Act 2000, Hamas is a proscribed organisation in the UK. Inviting support for a proscribed organisation is a criminal offence that can include verbal statements, social media posts, or the display of symbols associated with the group. Prosecutors must prove the defendant intended to invite support, not merely express political views. A conviction carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.