27 Dec 2013

Funeral held of UK doctor who died in Syria

8:17 am on 27 December 2013

The funeral of a British doctor who died while in custody in Syria has been held in London.

The service for Abbas Khan, 32, took place at Regent's Park Mosque on Thursday.

He was arrested after arriving in Syria to work in a field hospital in a rebel area in November 2012.

The Syrian government announced on 17 December that he had committed suicide. His family believes he was murdered.

His family has revealed a letter in which Dr Khan talked of his optimism at being released and his hopes of being home in time for Christmas.

The BBC reports Dr Khan's body was flown back to London on Sunday and a post-mortem examination later took place.

An inquest will open at Walthamstow Coroner's Court on Friday.

Dr Khan's brother, Shahnawaz, has criticised the British government for not doing enough to secure his freedom.