North London GP Dr Nonoo-Cohen Suspended Over Islamophobic Messages 2026

Key Points

• Dr Cinderella Nonoo-Cohen, a GP in North London, was suspended for four months by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) over Islamophobic remarks made to a colleague following the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023.
• The messages included statements labelling Muslims as “animals” and expressing extreme views such as “kill all Muslims”.
• The tribunal found her remarks amounted to Islamophobia, serious misconduct, and a breach of professional standards, but suspended her rather than striking her off due to her previous good character and remorse.
• Dr Nonoo-Cohen qualified in 1990 and works as a partner at The Wells Park Practice in Forest Hill, South London; she sent the messages in a private WhatsApp group chat with a colleague.
• The incident occurred amid heightened tensions after the Hamas attacks, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel and triggered the ongoing Gaza conflict.
• No patients were directly affected, and the tribunal noted her insight into the impact of her words and steps taken to remediate her conduct.
• The General Medical Council (GMC) presented the case, highlighting the messages as discriminatory and contrary to the Equality Act 2010.
• Dr Nonoo-Cohen apologised unreservedly during the hearing, stating the remarks were made in “a moment of extreme emotion”.
• The suspension ends after four months, with conditions including a reflective practice review.
• This case underscores ongoing debates about freedom of speech versus professional conduct for doctors in politically charged contexts.

(North London News) March 3, 2026 – Dr Cinderella Nonoo-Cohen, a general practitioner at The Wells Park Practice in Forest Hill, has been suspended for four months by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service for sending Islamophobic messages to a colleague shortly after the Hamas terror attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023.​

The tribunal determined that Dr Nonoo-Cohen’s WhatsApp messages, which referred to Muslims as “animals” and called for extreme actions against them, constituted serious misconduct and Islamophobia. Despite the gravity of the remarks, the panel opted for suspension rather than erasure from the medical register, citing her long career without prior issues, genuine remorse, and insight into the harm caused.​

What Messages Did Dr Nonoo-Cohen Send?

As reported by Lydia Catmur of the Evening Standard, the offending messages were exchanged in a private WhatsApp conversation with a medical colleague on 9 October 2023, just two days after the Hamas attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Dr Nonoo-Cohen wrote:

“Muslims are animals they should all be killed,”

followed by additional inflammatory statements expressing hatred towards Muslims collectively.​

The tribunal heard that these remarks were in response to news of the attacks, during a period of global shock and grief. According to the MPTS findings, quoted by Catmur, Dr Nonoo-Cohen later admitted the messages were “appalling” and not reflective of her true beliefs, claiming they stemmed from “raw emotion” over the violence against Israeli civilians.​

The recipient of the messages reported them to the practice manager, leading to a GMC referral. No evidence emerged of Dr Nonoo-Cohen expressing these views to patients or in professional settings beyond the private chat.​

Why Was the Tribunal Held?

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service convened in November 2025 to adjudicate charges of misconduct brought by the General Medical Council, as detailed in coverage by the Evening Standard. The GMC alleged that Dr Nonoo-Cohen’s conduct was discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010, impaired her fitness to practise, and brought the medical profession into disrepute.​

Tribunal chair Karen O’Neill stated:

“The tribunal was satisfied that the facts found proved amount to serious misconduct and Islamophobia, and that the appropriate sanction is suspension for four months.”

This decision followed a five-day hearing where evidence included screenshots of the WhatsApp exchange and witness testimonies.​

As noted by Catmur, the panel considered mitigating factors such as Dr Nonoo-Cohen’s 35-year unblemished career since qualifying in 1990, her role as a practice partner, and her voluntary steps like equality training.​

What Factors Influenced the Suspension Decision?

The tribunal balanced aggravating and mitigating circumstances, finding the remarks “deeply offensive” but contextualised by the timing post-Hamas attacks. Dr Nonoo-Cohen gave evidence, saying:

“I apologise unreservedly. Those words do not represent my beliefs or how I practise medicine.”​

O’Neill emphasised Dr Nonoo-Cohen’s “previous good character,” lack of patient harm, and “full insight and remorse,” ruling out erasure as disproportionate. Instead, a four-month interim suspension was imposed, with a requirement for a reflective practice review upon return.​

Coverage in the Evening Standard highlighted that the GMC sought a longer sanction, but the tribunal deemed suspension sufficient for public protection.​

How Did Dr Nonoo-Cohen Respond in Her Defence?

During the hearing, Dr Nonoo-Cohen, represented by solicitor Simon Dinn, explained the messages as an “immediate, visceral reaction” to footage of the attacks. She stated:

“I was horrified by what I saw – babies murdered, families slaughtered. In that moment of extreme emotion, I typed words I now deeply regret.”​

She affirmed her commitment to treating all patients equally, noting: “In my 35 years as a GP, I have cared for Muslim patients without distinction.” Dr Nonoo-Cohen underwent counselling and diversity training post-incident, which the tribunal accepted as genuine remediation.​

What Is the Context of the Hamas Attacks?

The messages followed Hamas’s 7 October 2023 assault on Israel, involving rocket barrages and incursions that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza has resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths, according to health authorities there, amid ongoing international scrutiny.​

Dr Nonoo-Cohen referenced her Jewish heritage and family connections to Israel in her testimony, though the tribunal focused on the professional implications rather than geopolitical justification.​

What Happens After the Suspension?

Dr Nonoo-Cohen’s suspension, effective from the tribunal’s decision in late 2025, lasts four months, after which she may resume practice subject to review. Conditions include a reflective log on equality and a supervisor’s report.​

The Wells Park Practice confirmed she remains a partner but has not worked during the suspension. No further GMC action is planned unless new issues arise.​

Has This Case Sparked Broader Debate?

The story, primarily covered by the Evening Standard, has reignited discussions on doctors’ private expressions amid global conflicts. Supporters argue for context in emotional responses, while critics, including the Muslim Council of Britain, call it unacceptable prejudice.​

Similar cases, like suspensions for anti-Semitic or pro-Palestinian posts, highlight tensions in the NHS. GMC guidance stresses that private views must not undermine public trust in medicine.​

What Do Experts Say About Professional Conduct?

Simon Dinn, defending, told the tribunal: “Doctors are human; a momentary lapse in private does not define fitness to practise.” Conversely, GMC counsel Rachel Sullivan argued: “Such views risk alienating patients and breaching equality duties.”​

The MPTS ruling reinforces that while context matters, inflammatory language crosses professional lines.​

Background on Dr Nonoo-Cohen and the Practice

Dr Cinderella Nonoo-Cohen, 60, joined The Wells Park Practice in 1990, serving a diverse South London community. The practice, rated “good” by the Care Quality Commission, issued a statement: “We take equality seriously and supported the investigation.”​

No complaints from patients were recorded.​