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| Syrian inmates say death of UK doctor Abbas Khan was not suicide | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A UK doctor found dead in prison in Syria was killed because he kept a diary of the brutality he witnessed in jail, a former inmate has told the BBC. | A UK doctor found dead in prison in Syria was killed because he kept a diary of the brutality he witnessed in jail, a former inmate has told the BBC. |
| Dr Abbas Khan was working in a field hospital in a rebel-controlled part of Syria when he was arrested in 2012. | Dr Abbas Khan was working in a field hospital in a rebel-controlled part of Syria when he was arrested in 2012. |
| Syrian officials said Dr Khan's death in custody more than a year later was suicide, but his family dispute this. | Syrian officials said Dr Khan's death in custody more than a year later was suicide, but his family dispute this. |
| Two former inmates, speaking to the BBC in Syria, claimed Dr Khan was in a positive frame of mind. | Two former inmates, speaking to the BBC in Syria, claimed Dr Khan was in a positive frame of mind. |
| On Monday a pre-inquest hearing revealed that a psychiatrist would investigate Dr Khan's mental state. | On Monday a pre-inquest hearing revealed that a psychiatrist would investigate Dr Khan's mental state. |
| 'Brutality' | 'Brutality' |
| One of the men, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, claimed the 32-year-old surgeon was killed because he had kept a diary about what he had seen. | One of the men, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, claimed the 32-year-old surgeon was killed because he had kept a diary about what he had seen. |
| He said: "He used to tell us about how they used to beat him and hang him up by his hands. | He said: "He used to tell us about how they used to beat him and hang him up by his hands. |
| "I remember he had lots of dark bruises. | "I remember he had lots of dark bruises. |
| "He saw people dying in front of him. Abbas saw the brutality. They killed him for the things Abbas saw." | "He saw people dying in front of him. Abbas saw the brutality. They killed him for the things Abbas saw." |
| Dr Khan, an orthopaedic surgeon from London and a father-of-two, crossed into Syria from Turkey without a visa and was captured in Aleppo, where he had volunteered to help treat casualties. | Dr Khan, an orthopaedic surgeon from London and a father-of-two, crossed into Syria from Turkey without a visa and was captured in Aleppo, where he had volunteered to help treat casualties. |
| He died last year after being initially arrested in November 2012. | He died last year after being initially arrested in November 2012. |
| Syrian authorities say he was found hanged in his cell, but the UK Foreign Office has said he was "in effect murdered". | Syrian authorities say he was found hanged in his cell, but the UK Foreign Office has said he was "in effect murdered". |
| His family also believe he was killed by his captors. | His family also believe he was killed by his captors. |
| Dr Khan's body was flown back to the UK less than a week after his death and a post-mortem was carried out. | Dr Khan's body was flown back to the UK less than a week after his death and a post-mortem was carried out. |
| The inquest is listed for 13 October and is due to last for three weeks. | The inquest is listed for 13 October and is due to last for three weeks. |