It has caused outrage in the United States which lost 189 citizens in the attack in 1989. And, although opinion has been less unequivocal in the UK (many British citizens died including 11 in Lockerbie) I think most people here believe that al-Megrahi, dying of cancer, should not have been sent home to Libya but should have ended his life in prison.
Al-Megrahi has always claimed he was innocent, and some people believe that his conviction was based on rather weak circumstantial evidence. But that was not MacAskill's stated view. He released him on the grounds that even though al-Megrahi had shown no mercy to his victims, it was right to be compassionate to him, and to let him return home to his family to die.
Many outside the UK might have been surprised that this decision was taken by the Scottish Government. For 10 years now Scotland has had its own Parliament with devolved powers from the UK Government. So Scotland is responsible for running many services including prisons and the judicial system. The UK Government is still in charge of Scotland's foreign policy but, although this decision had international repercussions, it was technically just a domestic matter.
Scotland is currently ruled by a minority Scottish National Party (SNP) government. Their aim is eventually to achieve full-blown independence for Scotland, a situation which has not existed since the Union of Parliaments in 1707 when the Scottish Parliament was abolished. I have been impressed by many of the achievements of the SNP Government, and have always liked Alex Salmond, Scotland's First Minister.
However, as I watched Mr MacAskill's theatrical performance at his press conference, and then saw him interviewed by the BBC, Channel 4 News and then CNN (I have never seen the wonderful Wolf Blitzer so angry) it seemed to me that he was revelling in the limelight a little too much. This was his chance to put himself and Scotland in a world spotlight. As someone who is both Scottish and British, I am embarrassed by his decision, and I do not want Scotland to be infamous as the country which released a terrorist.
I regard myself as a compassionate person. I am wholly opposed to the use of torture and the death penalty in any circumstances, and I believe prisoners should be treated humanely, whatever their offences. Al-Megrahi should have remained in prison, being given whatever medical help he needed to ease his dying weeks.
But to release him was to show contempt for his victims, and to show no compassion to the relatives who have been grieving for 21 years, and will grieve for the rest of their lives. How do you think they felt, Mr MacAskill, when the man convicted of their loved ones returned to a hero's welcome in Libya ?
A huge mistake.
However, as I watched Mr MacAskill's theatrical performance at his press conference, and then saw him interviewed by the BBC, Channel 4 News and then CNN (I have never seen the wonderful Wolf Blitzer so angry) it seemed to me that he was revelling in the limelight a little too much. This was his chance to put himself and Scotland in a world spotlight. As someone who is both Scottish and British, I am embarrassed by his decision, and I do not want Scotland to be infamous as the country which released a terrorist.
I regard myself as a compassionate person. I am wholly opposed to the use of torture and the death penalty in any circumstances, and I believe prisoners should be treated humanely, whatever their offences. Al-Megrahi should have remained in prison, being given whatever medical help he needed to ease his dying weeks.
But to release him was to show contempt for his victims, and to show no compassion to the relatives who have been grieving for 21 years, and will grieve for the rest of their lives. How do you think they felt, Mr MacAskill, when the man convicted of their loved ones returned to a hero's welcome in Libya ?
A huge mistake.
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