Megrahi: An unfolding human tragedy
Most people would not wish to exploit or extend the misery of others. It is so easy to hate, yet to harbour corrosive hate is also to harm oneself. Does anyone suppose they would feel any lasting benefit were Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi forced to die in prison, far from his family? Would such a fate advantage those still grieving after 20 years for the loss of loved ones at Lockerbie? I don't believe it would.
More than five years after his application, his next appeal against his 27-year sentence still does not have a starting date. All we know is that our Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission decided his trial might have been unfair. The absence of certainty is in a sense our fault. We have been far too slow. Look at the dilemma tardiness has brought upon us. But the lack of certainty is irrelevant: guilty or innocent, we have an unfolding human tragedy. We do not have a code of punishment that condemns people to die in a foreign prison, so far from their family.
The world is watching whether we show magnanimity or vengeance. To those who might wish the maximum misery for this man I would quote John Donne: "Send not to know for whom the bell tolls - it tolls for thee."
[From today's issue of The Herald. It can be read here.]
The Scottish politicians and Lord Advocates should already prepare which measures to take against the three Lord Advocates responsible for the misjugdement , if the 'Megrahi judgement' is confirmed to be a miscarriage of justice by the High Court in Edinburgh?
ReplyDeleteMoral damage for Mr. Abdulbaset al-Megrahi:
up to now 8,6 painful years (from 27years) suffering innocently as political hostage in scottish prisons. Financial damage by the UN-embargo for the Libyan state: approximately US$ 40 billions! The Libyans suffered severely under sanctions.
Prestige damage worldwide for Great Britain and Scotland: immeasurable …
by Edwin Bollier, MEBO Ltd, Switzerland