A Christian drugs expert is heading to court to get his job back after he was dumped from his role as a Government adviser over past comments he made about homosexuality.
Funded by The Christian Institute, Dr Hans-Christian Raabe is taking legal action after he was dismissed from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in February.
He co-authored an academic paper in 2005 which said: “While the majority of homosexuals are not involved in paedophilia, it is of grave concern that there is a disproportionately greater number of homosexuals among paedophiles.”
Embarrassment
The Home Office said the paper was an ’embarrassment’ and dismissed him from his role – despite the Home Office itself publishing similar data in 1998.
The Home Office claims Dr Raabe would not be able to offer balanced advice on drug misuse issues.
But Dr Raabe, a Manchester-based GP, said his comments about homosexuality have nothing to do with his role as a drugs adviser.
Witch-hunt
He is launching a judicial review in the High Court against Home Secretary Theresa May and is represented by human rights lawyer James Dingemans QC.
Dr Raabe says he is the victim of a witch-hunt. “I am not anti-gay,” he said. “I have been a GP for 19 years and have treated all my patients professionally and equally.
“It is bizarre for the Home Office to suggest I am unable to issue balanced advice on drug issues to gay people.”
McCarthyism
He is being supported by The Christian Institute. Spokesman Mike Judge said: “Dr Raabe’s comments about homosexuality have nothing to do with his role as a drugs adviser.
“His removal is worryingly like some sort of anti-Christian McCarthyism. Being a Christian should not be a bar to public office.
“It is right that we fight this injustice and we are glad to fund Dr Raabe’s case.”
Credibility
A Home Office spokesman said: “Dr Raabe’s failure to disclose a controversial report that he had co-authored which, among other things, links homosexuality to paedophilia, raised concerns over his credibility to provide balanced advice on drug misuse issues.”
A date has yet to be set for the High Court hearing.