22 Dec 2013 / 19 Safar 1435

The Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA) was formed in 1981 to foster the unity and welfare of medical and health care professionals, to promote Islamic medical activities including health services, education and research, to promote the understanding and application of Islamic principles in the field of medicine and, to mobilize professional and economic resources to provide medical care and relief to affected areas and communities, amongst other noble aims and objectives.

FIMA has been involved in the provision of humanitarian care and support of all affected communities devastated by both man-made and natural disasters since its inception. Recent examples of these collaboration include the Philippines floods, Haiti earthquake, Pakistan earthquake, conflict in Libya, Egypt, Syria during “Arab Spring”, famine relief in Sudan and Somalia, prevention of blindness in Africa, Middle-East and Asian subcontinent, amongst other relief activities.

The young Dr Abbas Khan, a trainee orthopaedic surgeon from London, followed this calling to provide care, relief and support for those victims affected by the armed conflict in Syria. However, shortly after joining a relief team in Appello, Syria, he was arrested and following a year of uncertainty, frustration, diplomatic, legal and political wrangling, he was proclaimed dead on Monday 16 December 2013.

This is in direct violation of the Geneva Convention of 1949 which speaks to the protection of humanitarian aid workers in conflict zones.

We are eternally grateful to all those involved in the release of his body from his captors, its repatriation from Syria and eventually delivered back home to his family in South London for a dignified burial. Our condolences and sympathies are further extended to his immediate family on their tragic loss and avail our support with their loss and grieving. IMA Lebanon deserves special gratitude and appreciation for their role in this process.

We further confirm that we are an apolitical, non-sectarian and non-sexist health care organization devoted to the realization of its aims and objectives guided by a strict code of moral and ethical conduct.

We, therefore, cannot condone and condemn in no uncertain terms the abuse or wanton killing of its dedicated health professionals serving the humanitarian and health needs of those helpless victims placed in their care.

Wassalaam

Dr Ashraf Jedaar
Chairman
FIMA Relief