The sister of a British doctor who has died while imprisoned in Syria says he was a hero who was trying to make a difference.
Sky NEWS
7:52pm UK, Tuesday 17 December 2013
Video: UK Doctor Dies In Syrian Custody
By Joe Tidy, Sky News Reporter
A British doctor who died while being held by Syrian authorities was effectively murdered, a Foreign Office minister has said.
Dr Abbas Khan, 32, an orthopaedic surgeon from Streatham, south London, had been held in Syria for more than a year but died only days before he expected to be released.
He was seized by government troops in the rebel-held city of Aleppo after entering the country on a humanitarian mission without a visa.
Foreign Office minister Hugh Robertson said: "There is no excuse whatsoever for the treatment that he has suffered by the Syrian authorities who have in effect murdered a British national who was in their country to help people injured during their civil war."
Sara Khan, one of the doctor's six siblings, told Sky News that a Syrian official had told them a "ridiculous story" that Abbas had taken his own life.
The family were expecting him to be released in the coming days after MP George Galloway had negotiated with Syrian authorities.
Dr Khan in the operating theatre
"Last week, George Galloway called us and said we could go and collect him," Ms Khan told Sky News.
"We thought this Friday was to be the day. The deputy foreign minister of Syria called my mum to say they were going to let him go. We were so happy, we started decorating and preparing for his return.
"Then we heard from the prison that he had been taken away. Officials said it was just a final step in the process. We were sceptical.
"He went on Friday and on Monday we got a call from a security service official to say he was dead. Syrians are calling it a case of suicide - the statement released a ridiculous story of how he killed himself."
Dr Khan's sister said the family was "absolutely shocked and devastated" at the "callous crime".
"If they'd have killed him straight away I'd almost understand and accept it, but we had hope. He was due to be back with us in four days. I could never have asked for a better brother. He was an amazing person.
"He was caught up in a political row and it's unfair."
Dr Khan with his son. Pic: FreeAbbasKhan/Facebook
Mr Galloway, MP for Bradford West, called Mr Khan's death "heartbreaking" and said he had been preparing to fly to Syria to bring him home.
"I think we will have to wait for clarification on how exactly he died," said Mr Galloway.
"But this is heartbreaking and devastating news for his family who have been working so hard for so long to secure his release, particularly because his freedom had been agreed and he was due to return with me in the next few days.
"My sincere condolences go out to his family whose pain is unbearable."
Sara Khan told Sky News: "My brother is my hero. He didn't die in a normal way, he died trying to make a difference.
"Some could say he was naive for going out there and risking his life but he went out there because he knew his skills could help.
Dr Khan leaves behind a wife and two children
"He did something that he believed in and made an example for other people to do things. It's so brutal out there. Before the war, Aleppo had 1500 general surgeons - now there are only four."
Talking about his arrest on November 22, 2012, she said: "When he was taken we were grateful in a way because we knew what we were dealing with. We thought 'OK, now we can get him back'.
"We overestimated how well the regime would treat him. We'd spoken to other prisoners who'd been released and they were OK.
My brother's a fully grown man so we thought he'd be OK." She added: "We didn't get any information from the Foreign Office until June but we knew by then he'd been taken. They said we are going to look after him. Nothing happened - nobody went to see him.
"My mum went to Damascus and continuously banged on doors to find out whether he was. She took a suitcase with her - almost full of his favourite biscuits.
"Months later, she was allowed to see him at the Ministry of Justice in Syria where they brought him shackled in front of her.
She didn't even recognise him, he'd lost almost half his weight and had scars all over his body and he was missing finger nails.
The doctor was caught up a political row, his sister said
"He was moved in August to a civil prison - low security almost like an open prison. He seemed to be comfortable and began teaching English to others. My mum saw him regularly at this point.
"The authorities ended up charging him with fixing the bones of the opposition but he denied treating with prejudice. He never would have done that. The trial kept getting put back."
Earlier, the Foreign Office confirmed it was investigating the reports of Dr Khan's death.
A statement said: "We are extremely concerned by reports that Dr Khan has died in detention in Syria and are urgently seeking confirmation from the Syrian authorities.
"If these tragic reports are true, responsibility for Dr Khan's death lies with them and we will be pressing for answers about what happened.
"We have consistently sought consular access to Dr Khan and information on his detention, directly and through the Russians, Czechs and others.
"All UK consular services in Syria were suspended some time ago and we continue to advise against all travel to Syria."
VIDEO:
Read more: http://news.sky.com/story/1183602/syria-murdered-british-doctor-says-minister
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