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Inquest continues into death of British doctor in Syria

The inquest 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 continues today.

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.

Yesterday - the first day of the three-week hearing - his wife Hannah described how she and her husband, who she described as "my whole life, my family, best friend and love" had been planning how they and their two children would enjoy their lives together when he was eventually freed.

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  1. Emma Murphy

Abbas Khan 'didn't tell mother he was going to Syria'

By Emma Murphy: ITV News Correspondent

The mother of a British doctor found dead in Syria has told an inquest jury her son didn't tell her he was going to Syria as he knew she would "go crazy and scream."

Fatima Mahmood described the moment her son told her he was going abroad.

Fatima Khan, mother of Dr Abbas Khan Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA

She told the court, "He said, Mummy I'm going to Turkey, he said goodbye stood in the doorway."

In November 2012 she discovered the doctor had crossed into Syria and gone missing. Describing her reaction when her daughter told her that he had vanished she said, "My hands were shaking, my mind was blank. I did not start crying straight away. I told my husband I cannot go to my son's funeral at this age."

Mrs Khan went on to tell the court how she travelled to Syria alone "to try and rescue my son."

She added, "I did not feel the Foreign Office was not making enough effort to save my son's life."

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Inquest continues into death of British doctor in Syria

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