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Brother of British doctor held in Syria appeals to Russia for help
@FreeDRABBASKHAN, Twitter
Download podcast The family of British doctor Abbas Khan, who disappeared a year ago on a humanitarian mission to Syria, said he was tortured in a military prison and was only found after his mother went on a mission to the war-torn country. VoR spoke to Dr Abbas's brother, Afrose Khan, who explained why he went to Syria in the first place and appealed to President Putin to help restore him to his family.
Dr Abbas Khan was an orthopaedic surgeon who went to Syria to help treat patients caught up in the conflict but was captured by Syrian government forces and put in prison.
Afrose Khan says Dr Abbas went to Syria following the example of British doctors who go there to offer medical assistance. He was on sabbatical and wanted to do some humanitarian work. He took with him £20,000 worth of orthopaedic equipment to treat fractured bones.
Within 72 hours of arriving in Aleppo, he was picked up by security, says Afrose Khan.
He had taken with him £20,000 worth of orthopaedic equipment to treat fractured bones.
Why was he picked up by the Syrian authorities?
“From what I understand he entered Syria without a visa. He was stopped somewhere at a checkpoint and he didn't have a correct visa. He was just detained indefinitely.”
He is married with two young children.
"It's been a very traumatic time for them. For six months we didn't know if he was dead or alive. In our mind we were looking for his dead body."
When Dr Abbas’s mother went to Damascus to look for her son, she sought help from diplomats and different embassies. The Russian embassy in particular was helpful to her, saysAfrose Khan.
Through the intervention of someone - "we don't know who" - he was transferred from a military place of detention to a civilian prison, where he is at the moment.
During his time in detention, his weight had dropped to a mere five stone and he bore signs of torture. He is now being treated well "and we are very thankful to the Syrian government for his condition at present," says Afrose.
"We are hopeful that he will come back, but it's a question of when and how. We've had very close discussion with diplomats at the Russian Embassy in Damascus and they've been very helpful, but we would like more help.
"We know that President Putin has the ear of President Basher al-Assad, so we make an appeal to the Kremlin, to President Putin that he makes an intercession on behalf of my brother to the Syrians so that he can be reunited with his family, who'll be waiting for him."
(Voice of Russia)
Brother of British doctor held in Syria appeals to Russia for help - News - News - Voice of Russia UK, Voice of Russia - UK Edition
with an interview about 4:31 minutes
@FreeDRABBASKHAN, TwitterDownload podcast The family of British doctor Abbas Khan, who disappeared a year ago on a humanitarian mission to Syria, said he was tortured in a military prison and was only found after his mother went on a mission to the war-torn country. VoR spoke to Dr Abbas's brother, Afrose Khan, who explained why he went to Syria in the first place and appealed to President Putin to help restore him to his family.
Dr Abbas Khan was an orthopaedic surgeon who went to Syria to help treat patients caught up in the conflict but was captured by Syrian government forces and put in prison.
Afrose Khan says Dr Abbas went to Syria following the example of British doctors who go there to offer medical assistance. He was on sabbatical and wanted to do some humanitarian work. He took with him £20,000 worth of orthopaedic equipment to treat fractured bones.
Within 72 hours of arriving in Aleppo, he was picked up by security, says Afrose Khan.
He had taken with him £20,000 worth of orthopaedic equipment to treat fractured bones.
Why was he picked up by the Syrian authorities?
“From what I understand he entered Syria without a visa. He was stopped somewhere at a checkpoint and he didn't have a correct visa. He was just detained indefinitely.”
He is married with two young children.
"It's been a very traumatic time for them. For six months we didn't know if he was dead or alive. In our mind we were looking for his dead body."
When Dr Abbas’s mother went to Damascus to look for her son, she sought help from diplomats and different embassies. The Russian embassy in particular was helpful to her, saysAfrose Khan.
Through the intervention of someone - "we don't know who" - he was transferred from a military place of detention to a civilian prison, where he is at the moment.
During his time in detention, his weight had dropped to a mere five stone and he bore signs of torture. He is now being treated well "and we are very thankful to the Syrian government for his condition at present," says Afrose.
"We are hopeful that he will come back, but it's a question of when and how. We've had very close discussion with diplomats at the Russian Embassy in Damascus and they've been very helpful, but we would like more help.
"We know that President Putin has the ear of President Basher al-Assad, so we make an appeal to the Kremlin, to President Putin that he makes an intercession on behalf of my brother to the Syrians so that he can be reunited with his family, who'll be waiting for him."
(Voice of Russia)
Brother of British doctor held in Syria appeals to Russia for help - News - News - Voice of Russia UK, Voice of Russia - UK Edition
with an interview about 4:31 minutes
