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Muhammad
11-03-2013, 05:08 PM
Tortured, starved and locked up in the dark... heroic British doctor held by Assad's thugs


  • Dr Abbas Khan, from South London, vanished on a mercy mission to Syria
  • Tracked down by distraught mother Fatima who travelled to Damascus
  • 'He was like a skeleton and could barely walk,' she says


PUBLISHED: 22:51, 2 November 2013 | UPDATED: 23:04, 2 November 2013
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz2jbSP5Cmj


A British doctor who disappeared a year ago on a humanitarian mission to Syria has been tortured in a notorious military prison - and was only found after his mother spent months in the war-torn country trying to locate him.

Dr Abbas Khan, 31, an orthopaedic surgeon, was systematically beaten by interrogators and held for eight months in darkness in an underground cell.

At one point his weight dropped to just under five stone.

Married with two young children – six year-old son Abdullah and daughter Rurayya, seven – he was arrested on November 22 after crossing the Syrian border without a visa and treating wounded civilians in a field hospital in a rebel-held district of Aleppo.

For months his fate remained unclear, his plight seemingly forgotten, but his mother succeeded where diplomats and politicians failed, and managed to track him down after travelling to Damascus alone.

Speaking from the Syrian capital on her mobile phone, Fatima Khan said: ‘He was like a skeleton and could barely walk.
‘He told me that he had been through eight months of hell and at times had simply wanted to die. He was getting trouble from both sides.

'As well as the guards, other prisoners turned on him just because he is British. He told them that he was there to help their mothers and children.’

Mrs Khan, 57, from Mitcham, South-West London, arrived in Damascus in July and has remained there, on her own, ever since, vowing not to return to Britain until her son is released.



Search: He was tracked down by his mother Fatima and is now being held at Adra Prison in Damascus


Demonstrating unshakeable determination and driven by what she calls ‘a mother’s love’, she persuaded officials to transfer Dr Khan from Far’ Falastin detention centre just outside Damascus to another jail.

He is now being well treated and she is able to visit him once a week.

‘When I first saw him he was in tears and hugged me,’ she said. ‘He was saying, “Please Mum, please take me home.” ’

Mrs Khan is reluctant to discuss her son’s incarceration in Far’ Falastin in any depth for fear of inflaming an already highly fraught situation.

But Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said yesterday: ‘Conditions in Far’ Falastin have been notorious for years, with detainees often squeezed into rat and lice-infested underground cells known as “tombs” by the guards.

‘The CIA used to send people there as part of its infamous rendition programme. Torture is commonplace. It’s the last place you’d want to end up if you were caught by the authorities in Syria.’

Back in Britain, Mrs Khan’s other two sons and two daughters have worked ceaselessly behind the scenes to try to secure their brother’s release.

One of the politicians they sought help from was Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan, who went to the same school as Dr Khan in Tooting, South-West London.

‘The bravery and determination of Dr Khan’s mother, who has been in Syria searching for her son these last four months, is incredibly moving,’ said the MP.

‘It is a huge relief that she has found her son alive but questions must be raised as to why this couldn’t have been achieved by our Government.

‘I hope the Government will now make a renewed effort to use all diplomatic options available to secure Dr Khan’s release. I will also be raising this matter with the Foreign Secretary again.’

The Foreign Office has no consular relations with Syria, and this has severely impeded its efforts to make progress through diplomatic channels.

Syrian Ministry of Justice officials in Damascus have told Mrs Khan that her son was detained because he entered the country illegally and helped treat wounded rebels. But he has not been formally charged.

‘The case is in the hands of a judge, but I have heard that so many times before,’ said Mrs Khan.

‘My wonderful son is an innocent humanitarian worker who risked his life to help others. That is all he ever wanted to do. He is not in any way political; he is a doctor.

‘There must be someone who can help bring him home.’

Dr Khan, from Streatham, South London, is a hand/nerve trauma surgeon.

He spent a year as a training surgical registrar in Carlisle under consultant orthopaedic surgeon Rami Hussein and worked at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, Middlesex.

In a letter to the Syrian authorities, Mr Hussein said: ‘I got to know Dr Khan very well as a colleague as well as a friend. I found him to be an excellent and caring medical colleague at all times. I can completely vouch for his professional and personal integrity.’

Dr Khan, who was on a six-month sabbatical from Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, arrived in Turkey on November 12.

Initially working alongside the UK charity Human Aid, he spent the first week treating injured refugees crossing the border.
From them he heard stories of children dying on the streets of Aleppo, then the scene of some of the civil war’s worst fighting, because of a dire shortage of medics.



Innocents: A youth holds a child wounded by the Syrian Army shelling near Dar al-Shifa hospital in Aleppo

Along with two other doctors he decided to cross independently into Syria on November 20.

Unknown to Dr Khan, who brought medical supplies from home, he was entering the country at a time when anti-British sentiment in the Syrian government was running high.

That same day, William Hague angered President Assad and his high command by formally announcing a switch of recognition from Damascus to the newly formed Syrian National Coalition, which he called the ‘sole legitimate representative’ of the country’s people.

According to his family, Dr Khan spent just 24 hours working at a field hospital in Aleppo, helping only women and children, before being arrested by security forces at a checkpoint on November 22.

He was due to fly home two days later.

At first he was taken to an air force base before being transferred to Far’ Falastin.

His family heard through unofficial channels that he had been detained, but beyond that nothing more.

‘We were frantic,’ said his mother. ‘By March I decided that I couldn’t just sit at home doing nothing – I would have to go to Damascus to try to find him.’

Leaving her husband at home as she believed men are more likely to be arrested in Syria, Fatima went with her 23-year-old daughter Sara, a biomedical science student.

They first went to Beirut in Lebanon to try to obtain a visa for Syria but they were unsuccessful and returned home after several days.

Three months later she received unexpected news: her application had been approved.

‘There was a visa for me but not my daughter. I thought it would be better if I went alone, and as a mother I thought I would be better placed to plead my son’s case.’

Sara said the family failed to persuade her not to go. ‘She was just so determined. It is amazing because she has never been abroad alone before. We are enormously proud of her.’

After checking in to the Sheraton Hotel in Damascus, Mrs Khan headed immediately to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, where she endured ‘endless lectures about why Britain was a bad country’.

‘One official I met was really quite angry with me. But I told him that I know nothing of Britain’s policies. My life is about cooking and looking after my family.’

Undeterred, she lobbied officials for days on end, sometimes waiting hours for meetings lasting barely a few minutes.

And she handed over hundreds of pounds to unscrupulous lawyers who made ‘false promises’.

One said he could help if she gave £3,000 to him and £3,000 to a judge.

‘By then I was aware that they were trying to trick me and I reported this man,’ said Mrs Khan.

Eventually, however, she found a sympathetic Ministry of Justice official. ‘He was phoning everywhere and told me to give him 48 hours,’ said Mrs Khan.

‘After two days I got a call from his secretary telling me to be at the ministry at nine o’clock the following morning and that I would be able to see my son who was being brought from the prison.

‘I was taken to a ground-floor room with a table, two sofas and a few chairs. A judge was there and some security men. After five minutes they brought my son. He was so terribly thin.

‘He hugged me and said he was sorry and that he would never do humanitarian work again. He asked how his wife and children were and I said they were fine.

‘He didn’t want me to leave and said that they would never release him. I was breathless and threw myself at the feet of the judge, pleading with him to let my son go.

'But he said that he couldn’t, that there were allegations against him. It was all so upsetting.’

Soon after their emotional meeting, Mr Khan was transferred to Adra Prison in Damascus, where he remains.

‘He can take showers and cook his own meals. In the other prison he couldn’t even see what he was eating,’ said his mother.

‘It is much better and I can see him once a week. He has regained strength and weight.

‘It is typical of him that he is helping other prisoners inside. He has asked me for medicines for them, things like paracetamol and antibiotics.’

Mrs Khan continues to press the authorities in Damascus on a daily basis but is running up debts and has now swapped the Sheraton for a £7-a-night hotel.

‘I boil eggs for breakfast, have some fruit in the afternoon and a piece of chicken in the evening,’ she said. ‘I live simply. All I can think about is getting my son out.’

Dr Khan is one of many doctors who have been targeted in what aid agencies describe as a deliberate campaign by the regime to wipe out health services.

Others detained include the head of first aid for the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the leading aid agency in Syria. He was arrested in the same month as Dr Khan but released in January.

The Foreign Office said in a statement: ‘We are aware of the detention of a Dr Abbas Khan in Syria.

'For some time we have advised against all travel to Syria where all UK consular services are suspended. Our options for supporting British nationals there are limited.

‘Since the authorities confirmed Dr Khan’s detention, we have been pressing them to allow consular access for our partners, to ensure access for a lawyer and to provide information about any charges against him.

‘We have also met and been in regular contact with his family since they informed us of his disappearance.’

While Dr Khan’s brothers and sisters believe the Foreign Office ‘is doing all it can’, his mother insists more should be done.

And when she visited her son last week, he told her: ‘Why did my Government not support me? I am a humanitarian worker. You are the only one who has come to help me.’
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~Zaria~
11-03-2013, 06:13 PM
^ Alhamdulillah.

Make duaa for all our brothers and sisters who are lying in prisons, in so many parts of the world :cry: - suffering incredible torture, and often completely forgotten about.

May Allah (subhanawataála) grant them immense sabr, lighten their loads - just as He was able to cool the fire which Ibrahim (as) was thrown into, so too can He remove all hardships - and raise them to the highest ranks on qiyamaat. Ameen.
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Prayer4life
11-25-2013, 11:01 AM
SubhanAllah, every muslim mother should be as strong and courageous as Mr Khan's mother when someone in her family is held captive. Our muslim ummah and muslim countries and scoieties should be training their women and wives and daughters and sisters to look after themselves both through fitness/military training and using weapons and also medical/nursing training to deal with injuries suffered during wars and also how to deal with a biological and chemical attack and help casualities within their own countries. Its time muslim nations not only focused on males defending themselves and their families, but also training the women to help and protect themselves and their families and in case of future wars and attacks. I hope muslim countries take note of this advice and start organising training schemes or schools because the kuffar are already training both women and men in their schools and also camps secretly in preparation for times of conflict. Keeping fit through exercises are especialy important. This is no time to be sexist, this is time for defence of our nations and their people.
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Prayer4life
12-26-2013, 06:51 PM
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. May Allah subhana wat'ala grant brother Abbas the highest ranks of heaven on the day of judgement, another beautiful soul has returned to his creator. People often say heros wear soldiers uniforms, but our heros wear no uniforms, and strive to help all of humanity. Dr Abbas Khan, you stayed true to your medical oath right till the end to try and help give people life and not to take it, and we the muslim ummah are proud to have had such a righteous brother amongst us along with the many others who are trying to protect innocents. May your family find comfort in knowing that you died a true hero who was steadfast in his deen, and may your children grow up to be just as righteous as you once were. InshAllah.
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dcalling
12-27-2013, 05:55 AM
Prayers for him and all the civilians in the war zone. This war is not making any sense any more, why arrest a doctor? The Governments (Turkey, Iran, Saudis) should really setup safe zones for refugees to fled to. Is it so hard to do? I am sure if they setup a refugee camp in their own country refugees would come. epically Turkey and Saudi, they are rich (Iran is under sanction ...).

Also at least the doctor is alive, if it is the rebels his head would be cut off (I remember someone commented that if they do not want to lose their heads, keep out of the country).

Another confusion is, I have no idea which side the majority of the board members is on. It seems most are on the rebel's side, but most dislike the British/US and want them to get out (so in the same stance as Assad), and some seems even don't want Muslim countries to get involved either...

Right now I just want a cease fire, do you guys want:
1. cease fire
2. Islamic Rebel take total control
3. FSA take total control
4. Assad take total control
5. Confused/don't know
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Insaanah
12-27-2013, 09:00 PM
format_quote Originally Posted by dcalling
Also at least the doctor is alive
Umm no, read the post above yours? He's been passed away at least a week, and was buried home in the UK yesterday.

May Allah grant him the highest ranks of paradise, and grant comfort and solace to his loved ones, ameen.
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ابن آل مرة
12-27-2013, 11:11 PM
Just returned from a memorable Janazah of Dr. Abbas Khan, and mashaAllah, I do not remember attending a funeral as well attended as this one. The funeral prayer was first prayed in Streatham Mosque yesterday, and the mosque was completely packed out. Salatul-Janaza was prayed again today at Regent's Park mosque, and it was like Jumu'ah. Once again Salatul-Janaza was prayed at the graveyard itself, Gardens of Peace in Ilford. There may have been 500+ attendees at the graveyard alone to participate in the burial process. Such a funeral procession I have only read about in history books but never witnessed myself, let alone in England.

It wasn't just the numbers that impressed me, but also the attendance of some of the notables we all know, such as Fraz Farhat, Nabil al-Haq, Adnan Rasheed, Sh Tamir (from Muntada), Shaykh Suleman Ghani, and many others I may not recall, or didn't see.

I also met friends who I hadn't seen in nearly two decades. People came from all over the country. Undoubtedly, this is a good sign from Allah to comfort his grief-stricken family, and what awaits him in the next life is far greater without comparison.

It is also amazing how we can still have a Shaheed from South London in post 9/11 world who can be celebrated publicly by people of all backgrounds.

What an eventful life and what an honourable death. From Abbas Khan, to Dr. Abbas Khan, to al-Shaheed Abbas Khan.

May Allah raise his ranks in the hereafter and crush Assad and his henchmen in the near future.

Dr Abbas leaves behind two young children and a wife. A couple of days ago I asked his brother if his children have been told about this. He said yes, they have been told but they refused to believe it saying, "You're lying. He is not dead". They are only 6 and 7, how are they supposed to understand all of this?

But they are right, nevertheless: "Think not of those slain in the way of Allah as 'dead'. Indeed, they are alive, and with their Lord they have provision..." (3:169)

Dr Abbas Khan sacrificed his wife, children and his own life for us all. It is therefore our moral obligation to ensure that we all collectively look after his children.

The charity he went to Syria with - Human Aid - has set up a justgiving page to raise funds for his family. Already, within the space of a few hours they have raised over £6k! But that's only 6% of the target. So let's keep up the momentum by contributing whatever we can. Please share this status with others to raise awareness. May Allah reward you all on behalf of Dr Abbas's family.
Abuz Zubair
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dcalling
12-28-2013, 04:18 AM
Oh didn't saw that, I only saw the first line as Arabic so I thought that is the Arab translation of the firs message.

Still, my point is valid, his mother was able to get there and plea for his life, and they are able to get his body back to England. The rebels recently captured some activists (those are anti Assad activists, but I guess they criticized rebels so that is their fate), and killed some of them (one of them is a famous one, who post rebel pictures and videos online). I doubt they were given time for anyone to plea for their lives.

Why this have to happen? Can't Saudi, Turkey spend a little bit of money setup refugee camps, so the doctor can do his work in he camps and not risk their lives like this??!!
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