Inquest into death of British doctor in Syria opens

The inquest has opened into the death of a British doctor who died in Syrian custody days before he was due to be freed and returned to the UK.

Dr Abbas Khan, a 32-year-old surgeon, died in December 2013 having been held by the Syrian authorities since November 2012.

He had travelled to Syria to offer medical help to victims of the civil war, but was detained within two days of arriving in the country.

In the six months before his death his family had lobbied for Dr Abbas' freedom in Damascus. Having been told release was imminent they were then told he had killed himself, his body found hanging in his cell.

They have never believed the father-of-two would have taken his own life at the end of his incarceration and believe he was murdered by the Syrian authorities.

A jury of 7 men and 4 women at the Royal Courts of Justice will be asked to reach a conclusion on his death at the end of the inquest which is due to last three weeks.