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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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Nick Griffin's doubts over Dr Khan's 'suicide' in Syria

Former British National Party leader Nick Griffin told an inquest that it was possible the death of Dr Abbas Khan in a Syrian prison, had been made to look like suicide or that he was pressured into killing himself.

Former BNP leader Nick Griffin. Credit: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire

Dr Khan, a 32-year-old father-of-two from London, died on 16th December 2013 while in custody in Damascus.

Mr Griffin paid two visits to Syria in June 2013 and August 2013 and said during the first, he spoke about Dr Khan to the minister for information, the prime minister and a high-placed businessman who had President Assad's ear.

In further contact Mr Griffin was told that Dr Khan would be released, however he subsequently heard from Dr Khan's mother who told him: "they have killed him."

Dr Khan's family claim he was murdered, but the Syrian government always maintained that the surgeon killed himself and was found hanging in a jail cell.

Mr Griffin said he believed Dr Khan's death was brought about to prevent his release.

I concluded, purely as speculation, is that the way a group would try to stop that [Dr Khan's release] would be to so frighten him, in the light of the horrible experiences in the early days of his detention, that he would kill himself.

– Nick Griffin
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Inquest continues into death of British doctor in Syria

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