Griffin Worked To Free Doctor Jailed In Syria

An inquest into the death of a British doctor who died in Syrian custody has heard former BNP leader Nick Griffin worked with the Syrian government to get him released and put him through a "deradicalisation programme".

Mr Griffin, who was expelled from the BNP earlier this month , told the inquest that he went to Syria as an MEP in 2013 to raise awareness of the issue of European people fighting jihad in the country.

While there he said he met an influential businessman whom he helped to write a proposal for a "deradicalisation programme" to rehabilitate jihadists using a form of Islamic theology called Sufism.

Mr Griffin described it as a "brand of pacifist Islam based on love".

Hearing about Dr Abbas Khan's detention in the country, Mr Griffin then suggested to the Syrians that Dr Khan should be released so he could be one of the first to go through this programme.

Mr Griffin said the Syrian regime, including President Bashar al Assad, liked the idea as it would be "good publicity" and moves were made to get Dr Khan released.

The inquest previously heard there was no evidence to suggest that Dr Khan had travelled to Syria to fight. The orthopaedic surgeon was arrested in the war-torn country under terrorism charges while volunteering in a hospital in Aleppo.

Dr Khan's family were aware of Mr Griffin's plans and were happy for him to go through the programme as he would be freed.

Despite claims that there was "personal authorisation" from Mr Assad, Dr Khan died days before he was supposed to be released.

Syrian authorities say Dr Khan hanged himself but his family contest this.

The inquest also heard that Mr Griffin believed his contact was extremely close to Mr Assad, whom he describes as "not the monster that media portray".

The former BNP leader said he thought the president would not have ordered for Dr Khan to be killed.

Instead, Mr Griffin speculated to the jury at the Royal Courts of Justice that Dr Khan was threatened with torture and may have "been forced to take his own life".

The inquest is expected to end with a jury decision next week.