Father Of Daughter Killed In Syria Accuses Government Of "Back-Pedalling"

The father of a British woman who died fighting with Kurdish forces in Syria has accused the Government of "back-pedalling" amid his calls to bring her body home.

Dirk Campbell, father of Anna Campbell, said it now seemed more likely his daughter's body would be "left to rot" on the battlefield in Afrin.

He claims a meeting with Alistair Burt, minister of state for the Middle East, gave him little confidence of progress.

In an open letter to the Government last week, Mr Campbell claimed Turkish authorities had flouted humanitarian law by not searching for the dead and preventing their bodies being "bespoiled".

He said charities were prevented access to assist and consequently, his daughter's body has not been brought back to the UK.

Ms Campbell, 26, is the eighth Briton to have died in the country so far. 

She flew to Syria via Lebanon about a year ago where she joined the YPJ - an all-female brigade of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). 

Mr Campbell, of Lewes in East Sussex, said: 

"It is a scandalous state of affairs.

"I had hoped for a less equivocal response from the Foreign Office. It is just completely back-pedalling. They are not supporting the Kurds."

One of Ms Campbell's sisters, Hester, said: 

"We don't want Anna to have died for nothing."

She added the family had a "desolate feeling of futility".

Mr Campbell's MP, Conservative Maria Caulfield, said she was trying to arrange a meeting for him with Prime Minister Theresa May.

In a YPJ video filmed before she left for Afrin, a smiling Ms Campbell told the camera how she was known by her nom de guerre of Helin Qerecox.

She said she was "happy and proud" to join her friends and defend against fascism.

Since January, conflict has been inflamed between Turkey and Kurdish groups.

In the week of Ms Campbell's death, Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country's military had captured the town centre of Afrin, which was previously controlled by the YPG.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman, said:

"We have been in contact with Anna's family following her sad death in Syria.

"As the UK government has no consular presence in Syria, our ability to help is extremely limited.

"The UK has repeatedly raised its concerns with Turkey following its intervention into Northern Syria.

"While we recognise Turkey's legitimate right to defend its borders, it is essential that the rights of innocent civilians are protected.

"Turkey has assured us of its commitment to respect international law in its operations.

"Where there is credible evidence that human rights have been violated, then those responsible should be held to account.

"Anybody who travels to Syria against our advice is putting themselves at considerable risk."