The alleged chemical weapons attack this week near Idlib, Syria captured the attention of the world, as international media published horrific images of the dying and injured.

But many journalists who have covered the conflict on the ground are now outraged, as Shajul Islam — a former British doctor who had his license stripped after being accused of participating in a terrorist kidnapping ring targeting Western journalists — is being interviewed and promoted by international media as an expert for presenting commentary on the incident.

British journalist John Cantlie was to be the main witness against Islam during the pretrial hearing. However, Cantlie was then kidnapped a second time. Cantlie is still being held captive by the Islamic State.

Because Cantlie wasn’t available to testify at the trial, the kidnapping charges were dropped against Islam.

One of the currently outraged reporters is Jenan Moussa. She has filed numerous reports from inside Syria and is one of the top journalists covering the conflict:

I cant believe NBC interviewed this guy. Talk to Syrian doctors. This guy was involved in kidnapping 2 journalists https://t.co/UgDkYyrL3U https://t.co/1jypPijYf5 — Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) April 6, 2017

Her complaint was specifically directed at NBC News, which heavily promoted their interview with Islam:

This doctor in Syria describes the chilling reality of treating victims of chemical attacks. pic.twitter.com/IclMuvzJrM — NBC News (@NBCNews) April 6, 2017

.@RichardEngel Dr. Shajul Islam speaks on his current experience treating victims of chemical attack in Syria. https://t.co/U6E4ozcUpK pic.twitter.com/Reb4mn4tsD — NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) April 5, 2017

We spoke to @DrShajulIslam about his current experience treating Syrian victims of chemical attacks https://t.co/sQfef2qvK7 — Emmanuelle Saliba (@_esaliba) April 6, 2017

But other outlets, including Al-Jazeera and the CBC in Canada, are also promoting Shajul Islam in their coverage of the attack:

Hospitals are overwhelmed with victims of the chemical attack in Syria. pic.twitter.com/vujObOkvIO — AJ+ (@ajplus) April 5, 2017

Clearly a war crime': International community denounces chemical attack in Syria but fails to act https://t.co/tclw8IWCoc pic.twitter.com/czMXe2bYX6 — CBC News: The National (@CBCTheNational) April 5, 2017

Meanwhile, Islam is now using his new notoriety to raise money for his efforts. In his videos, he seems more concerned about propaganda and his fundraising than in treating the chemical weapons victims:

Update on yesterdays gas attack. We need your help to buy protective mask and clothing.

Please donate to save #Liveshttps://t.co/gBlRI543gh pic.twitter.com/qjn7XHWxgr — Dr Shajul Islam (@DrShajulIslam) March 26, 2017

Islam reportedly fled back to Syria last year after having his medical license revoked. He has been active on social media from areas controlled by Jabhat al-Fateh, the former al-Qaeda affiliate:

Shajul Islam back in #Syria, after being struck off UK Dr's register for his alleged role in kidnapping journalists: https://t.co/oaWKmDlcKR — Emma Beals (@ejbeals) August 13, 2016

Shajul Islam and his brother were arrested in November 2012, accused of being part of a British kidnapping cell that operated on the Turkish-Syrian border where many Western journalists would cross:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNequ62JZqw

Two of those kidnapped journalists taken by the cell, Cantlie and Jeroen Oerlemans, were taken by the British cell in July 2012 and later released. Cantlie presented evidence against Shajul Islam during his pretrial hearing.

Oerlemans was later killed covering the conflict in Libya:

Shajul and Razul Islam are 2 brothers from London – linked to the British kidnapping ring in Syria which started operating in summer 2012 — Daniele Raineri (@DanieleRaineri) February 26, 2015

Man in court accused of kidnapping British photographer John Cantlie http://t.co/6gBA5uvv — The Independent (@Independent) October 17, 2012

Cantlie spoke with Channel 4 about his captivity:

Journalists captured by 'British' militants in Syria http://t.co/yh9TSjKf @Channel4News — Frank Owen (@frankowen999) August 6, 2012

The case against Islam fell apart when Cantlie was kidnapped again. Cantlie was taken along with American journalist James Foley, later beheaded by ISIS.

Foley Abduction Linked to British Jihadi Kidnapping Ring http://t.co/Ums9PUlpjI by me and @EliLake — Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) August 20, 2014

Because Cantlie was no longer able to testify, the charges were dropped. The Daily Beast reported:

The London legal case was viewed among extremist groups in Syria as a call to action to accelerate abductions of Western journalists, because one of the former hostages had testified against the alleged extremists in pretrial hearings before the case fell apart. The case also highlights the British government’s long struggle with how to combat the growing number of its own citizens who are waging jihad in Syria and fighting alongside ISIS.

In early November 2013, the British government released and dropped all charges against Shajul Islam, a British-trained doctor who was associated with the NHS. Islam had been arrested in October 2012 when he arrived back in London with his wife and child at Heathrow airport and was charged with the false imprisonment of two Western journalists kidnapped in Syria in July 2012. The British government also charged in 2012 his older brother Najul for helping Shajul prepare for the abductions and his associate Jubayer Chowdhury for participating in false imprisonment. Charges against those two men were also dropped late last year. Shajul’s younger brother Razul is also believed to have gone to Syria to wage jihad.