Convicted Lockerbie Bomber Has Cancer
Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, convicted for killing 270 people in the Lockerbie Aircraft bombing, has been diagnosed with an advanced stage of prostate cancer and is only expected to live for a few more weeks. Since his conviction in 2001, al-Megrahi has been incarcerated in a Scotland. His status as a Scottish prisoner may give him the chance of release for the last few weeks of his life, as inmates with less than three months to live can apply for “early release on compassionate grounds.”
Scotland’s Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill would be faced with al-Megrahi’s case, should the prisoner decide to submit an application for early release. If this does occur, MacAskill will be in a bind. Because many people still believe that al-Megrahi is innocent, by ruling against the application for early release, MacAskill would be confirming al-Megrahi’s guilt. MacAskill is also faced with weighing the medical evidence in this case, because he must be sure that al-Megrahi’s medical situation will not allow him to live more than the three months.
All of these factors, on top of the pressure of the families of those who were killed in the bombing, make MacAskill’s potential decision a monumental one.
Al-Megrahi is currently waiting to appeal his conviction for the second time. This appeal is expected to occur next year, and his lawyers have confirmed that even if al-Megrahi passes away, the appeal to prove his innocence will still go on.
If the application for early release is in fact approved, though, there is still an issue with al-Megrahi returning to Libya. As the UK has not signed a prison-transfer agreement with Libya, a prisoner from Scotland cannot be transferred to Libya without the approval of both states.
Conflicting opinions about the release of al-Megrahi on this medical basis has raised strong feelings from the families of those killed as a result of the bombing. Some believe he should be released to spend his last days with his family while others are still adament about keeping him in jail until his death.
Sarah Dada
