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Family of murdered aid worker vow to fight for justice

The family of British aid worker Khuram Shaikh, who was murdered in a Sri Lankan holiday resort on Christmas Day 2011, have vowed to continue their fight for justice despite the Sri Lankan authorities “painfully slow” manner in handling the case.

Speaking to the Guardian, Khuram’s father Mohammad Zaman Shaikh said,

"The Sri Lankan authorities have handled the case in a painfully slow manner... They are trying to brush it under the carpet in the hope that people will forget about what happened and that we will stop fighting for justice."


"We will never stop fighting for justice."

Khuram’s girlfriend, 24-year-old Victoria Tkacheva, who was raped and left with a fractured skull in the attack that saw Khuram shot dead, stated earlier this year that she would also “go to the end” for justice.

Simon Danczuk, Member of Parliament for the Shaikhs’ constituency, travelled to Sri Lanka in order to meet with government ministers in the hope of bringing the killers to justice. Danczuk, said,

"The loss this family has suffered is unbearable and I've seen for myself the pain in the parents' eyes as they struggle to come to terms with what happened to their son".


"I do not want another Christmas to pass with Khuram's killers still walking free."

The six men accused of murdering Khuram Shaikh and raping his Russian girlfriend have yet to face trial.

The case has attracted the attention of British Prime Minister David Cameron, who reportedly raised the “shocking and appalling” murder with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa directly. It has also gained interest from Prince Charles, who was said to have taken a private interest into the case and offered his help.   

Earlier this year, Khuram’s brother Nasser, also travelled to Sri Lanka. See his journey below in a video for the New Yorker.

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