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British doctor 'unlawfully killed' in Syria

A jury has returned a verdict of unlawful killing at an inquest into the death of British doctor in a Syrian prison.

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

His family claim he was murdered, but the Syrian government has always maintained that the orthopaedic surgeon killed himself and was found hanging in a jail cell.

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Minister: Abbas Khan's family deserve answers

Tobias Ellwood, Foreign Office minister for the Middle East, said there could be no excuse for the "reprehensible treatment" suffered by Dr Abbas Khan at the hands of the Syrian regime.

“Dr Khan’s imprisonment without consular access was unacceptable. The Foreign Office consistently sought access and pressed for his detention to be reviewed including through ministers and international partners.

The Syrian regime ignored these approaches. It can no longer do so. His family deserve answers and those responsible for Dr Khan’s death should be brought to justice. This is yet another example of the brutal nature of the Syrian regime which has killed thousands of innocent civilians.”

– Tobias Ellwood, Foreign Office minister

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