An Indian-origin British surgeon found dead in a prison in Syria last year was murdered, an inquest into his death at the Royal Courts of Justice in London concluded today.

Shah Abbas Khan, a 32-year-old father-of-two from south London, died on December 16, 2013 while in custody in Damascus. His family had claimed he was murdered but the Syrian government had maintained he was found hanging in a jail cell.

The jury of seven men and four women concluded that the medical cause of Khan's death was "unascertained", but found his killing unlawful. "Dr Khan was deliberately and intentionally killed without any legal justification," said the jury forewoman.

The UK foreign office demanded that the Syrian regime give Khan's family the answers they have been demanding and said the UK government will consider its next steps.

"The foreign office fully supported the Coroner's inquest and we will now consider next steps," Tobias Ellwood, Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, said in a statement. "

Khan's imprisonment without consular access was unacceptable. The Foreign Office consistently sought access and pressed for his detention to be reviewed including through ministers and international partners.

The Syrian regime ignored these approaches. It can no longer do so. His family deserve answers and those responsible for Khan's death should be brought to justice.