The Al-Megrahi Controversy

I want to start this post by stating that I applaud the decision taken by Kenny MacAskill, Justice Secretary for Scotland. Of course the welcome back to Libya was wholly inappropriate and distasteful but that should not influence our view of the stand taken. When we act in a morally appropriate way we can have no control over how someone else might respond but that should never be a determining factor. When we are asked to turn the other cheek it is with the expectation of an inappropriate response. But that is how we are asked to act.

When we put someone into prison we do it for a number of reasons. Let's consider these.

We do so in order to keep safe those who might otherwise come to harm if the person was not incarcerated. Mr Al-Megrahi no longer poses a threat so that criteria is now irrelevant.

We do so to make a statement to the public that crime does not pay. He remains a guilty and sentenced man, but as has been pointed out a now higher sentence has been passed and that is irrevocable. So that criteria continues and is inescapable.

We do so as a punishment imposed upon the criminal. The immediately previous sentence addresses the core issue. The sentence he now awaits supersedes anything prison would do to him.

Finally, we do so in the hope of rehabilitation and remedial influence. Well, it's far too late in his case. So that too is irrelevant.

On all moral grounds for incarcerating anyone for a crime there is now clearly no justification for his spending the relatively last few days in a Scottish prison. Long ago we exercised the "lock them up and throw away the key" or the "leave them to rot" attitude. But we have grown up a little since then. No matter how great our anger or bitterness might be regarding what happened in the skies above Lockerbie, and the ongoing suffering of those who lost so much, that is no justification for acting inhumanly.

The prophet Micah asked a question, "What does the Lord require of us?" The answer is to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

The commendable thing about the proper outcome of the legal situation in Scotland is that the compassion and mercy reflects the values of the Kingdom of God. He is not excused for what he has done. The tragedy is that other nations, less influenced by the values that come from faith, might well have taken a different view.

If you share my opinion then I hope that you will take opportunity to explain to others why. Where would we all stand if the righteous judgement of ourselves was not tempered with mercy?