Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi (Decision)

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at 11:27 am on 2 September 2009.

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Photo of Shirley-Anne Somerville Shirley-Anne Somerville Scottish National Party 11:27, 2 September 2009

The cabinet secretary Kenny MacAskill made the decision to release al-Megrahi for the right reasons, following due process—he met the criteria for compassionate release, which is a well-established principle of the justice system in Scotland. The timetable is clear. The evidence is clear. The reasons are clear. Agree with it or not, this was a quasi-judicial decision and one in which economic, political and diplomatic arguments have, quite rightly, played no part.

There has undeniably been anger at the decision, not least from some in the United States. The angry, emotional reaction is understandable given the horrific crime for which al-Megrahi was imprisoned. I, too, was deeply upset by the scenes of welcome on his return to Libya.