Hounded Out by Racism! Dr. Saad Khan Leaves the UK for Canada.

As a new year begins and experts argue what the future holds, one aspect of our existence remains clear: respect for institutions and individuals is declining, while hate is finding new ground to take root. Similarities are overlooked in favor of differences; the focus has shifted from what unites us to what divides us.

Dr. Saad Khan’s experience serves as a poignant illustration of the impact of hatred. Originally from Pakistan, Dr. Khan moved to the UK from Qatar in 2017, where he had practiced medicine for six years. In the UK, he met his future wife, Samantha, an occupational therapist, and they married in December 2022.

By July 2025, after enduring enough, Samantha and Dr. Khan decided to leave the UK forever and relocate to British Columbia, Canada.

When asked about the reasons for their move, Dr. Khan was candid, stating that it was primarily to protect their peace of mind amid what he described as rampant racism. He elaborated on the near-constant need to defend himself to colleagues and patients, having to assure them that he was “not a terrorist,” that he was “one of the good ones,” and that he posed no “threat” to anyone.

Dr. Khan also recounted several occasions when he overheard others referring to him using a racial slur, specifically “P,” which is used in the UK to denote individuals of Pakistani descent. This experience further solidified his desire to leave, as he expressed concern about his children’s future. “I don’t want my child being called the ‘P word,'” he said, despite not having children yet.

Ironically, at his practice in the UK, a poster on the wall declared that the NHS maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards hate. However, Dr. Khan knew that stating a policy was one thing, but enforcing it was entirely different. “As a doctor, my job should be to help people, not to ensure I don’t face abuse,” he remarked. “It’s difficult to assist your patients when they view you as an outsider,” he added empathetically.

He recalled a particularly troubling encounter with a patient who asked, “Did you come off the boat?”

Dr. Khan pointed out that the situation had become untenable. His commitment to his profession and his desire to assist his patients were continually overshadowed by incessant inquiries about his origins and his family’s background, rather than focusing on their health issues.

He said, “Many colleagues in the UK who share my demographic background have reached out to me, expressing that they feel the same way.”

“When I moved to the UK, I envisioned it as home; I even contemplated where I would be buried as a Muslim man. That emotional connection meant a lot to me.”

Dr. Khan concluded, “I reasoned that I could spend the next 30 years trying to fix an unfixable system, or I could prioritize my own needs and move on. I chose the latter. The UK will always hold a place in my heart; it may take some time for Canada to feel like home, but this is where I want to build my life.”

As part of his extended immigrant family, we wish Sister Samantha and Dr. Khan all the best in their new journey. May Allah SWT ease their transition. Ameen.