7 YEARS AGO: Dr Rachid Abbasi is arrested for refusing to leave the bedside of his critically ill daughter
Six-year-old Zainab was suffering from rare life-limiting condition called Niemann-Pick Disease.
In addition to this, after contracted swine flu at the age of two, she also suffered from serious respiratory problems, which required treatment.
After doctors announced her life-saving treatment would be withdrawn without the family’s consent, Rachid refused to leave Zainab's side.
The hospital staff then got him arrested, which led to him suffering a heart attack right outside the room where his little daughter was fighting for her life.
Zainab tragically died four weeks later.
With support from Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre, the Abbasis challenged extremely broad reporting restrictions that prevented them from sharing their stories in full.
After winning their case at the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court gave a landmark ruling in their favour on 16 April 2025.
Read more about this tragic case: https://t.co/9aYAOU9FOL