Stand with Maya! Tell NHS bosses: Stop Censoring Palestine
Stand with Maya! Tell NHS bosses: Stop Censoring Palestine
The Issue
Stand with Maya: Tell NHS bosses: Stop Censoring Palestine
Maya*, a dedicated Clinical Nurse Specialist at Kensington and Chelsea Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), is facing criticism and potential disciplinary consequences for wearing a ‘Freedom for Palestine’ badge. This badge, worn only on her coat outside of work hours, has been labelled as “political branding” by the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) after a complaint from a colleague. Yet, no such action is taken against those wearing poppies, Ukraine flag badges, or rainbow lanyards. Why the double standard? Because across British society pro-Palestinian speech is being targeted for suppression and censorship!
This further harassment of Maya follows on from discrimination she faced last year. Maya and Layla* were investigated, redeployed and banned from the building for over four months just for talking about whether to hold a peaceful lunchtime action in solidarity with Palestine. This investigation, and the way it was conducted, caused huge distress and disruption for the two staff and the wider service, only to conclude that they had done nothing wrong [3].
Why This Matters:
• Healthcare Workers Under Attack: since October 2023 Israel has killed nearly 1,000 healthcare workers [1] and stands accused of enacting a ‘pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza’ [2]. Yet showing solidarity with Palestinians as they face this horror is apparently deemed unacceptable.
• Freedom of Expression: Forcing Maya to remove her badge interferes unacceptably with her rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
• Selective Censorship: Is the NHS selectively censoring symbols of Palestinian identity while allowing staff to freely express support for other causes?
Our Call to Action:
1. Support Maya: Stand against the discriminatory actions of CNWL. Let’s ensure Maya and others can express their support without fear of disciplinary action.
2. Demand Fairness: Urge the NHS to apply consistent policies across all symbols of belief and national and cultural identity.
3. Stand with Palestinians: Advocate for the freedom of all NHS staff to express their support for the Palestinian people who are facing an ongoing genocide.
Join us in demanding justice and equality. Let’s make the NHS a place where all voices, including those in support of Palestine, can be heard and respected. Sign the petition and stand with Palestinians against censorship today!
*names in this petition have been changed
2,584
The Issue
Stand with Maya: Tell NHS bosses: Stop Censoring Palestine
Maya*, a dedicated Clinical Nurse Specialist at Kensington and Chelsea Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), is facing criticism and potential disciplinary consequences for wearing a ‘Freedom for Palestine’ badge. This badge, worn only on her coat outside of work hours, has been labelled as “political branding” by the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) after a complaint from a colleague. Yet, no such action is taken against those wearing poppies, Ukraine flag badges, or rainbow lanyards. Why the double standard? Because across British society pro-Palestinian speech is being targeted for suppression and censorship!
This further harassment of Maya follows on from discrimination she faced last year. Maya and Layla* were investigated, redeployed and banned from the building for over four months just for talking about whether to hold a peaceful lunchtime action in solidarity with Palestine. This investigation, and the way it was conducted, caused huge distress and disruption for the two staff and the wider service, only to conclude that they had done nothing wrong [3].
Why This Matters:
• Healthcare Workers Under Attack: since October 2023 Israel has killed nearly 1,000 healthcare workers [1] and stands accused of enacting a ‘pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza’ [2]. Yet showing solidarity with Palestinians as they face this horror is apparently deemed unacceptable.
• Freedom of Expression: Forcing Maya to remove her badge interferes unacceptably with her rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
• Selective Censorship: Is the NHS selectively censoring symbols of Palestinian identity while allowing staff to freely express support for other causes?
Our Call to Action:
1. Support Maya: Stand against the discriminatory actions of CNWL. Let’s ensure Maya and others can express their support without fear of disciplinary action.
2. Demand Fairness: Urge the NHS to apply consistent policies across all symbols of belief and national and cultural identity.
3. Stand with Palestinians: Advocate for the freedom of all NHS staff to express their support for the Palestinian people who are facing an ongoing genocide.
Join us in demanding justice and equality. Let’s make the NHS a place where all voices, including those in support of Palestine, can be heard and respected. Sign the petition and stand with Palestinians against censorship today!
*names in this petition have been changed
2,584
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on 4 April 2025