Mercy over Retribution in Scotland

In 1988, Libya arranged for a bomb to go off in the cargo hold of a trans-Atlantic flight. On December 21st,  270 die – everyone aboard the jet and eleven people in their homes in Lockerbie, Scotland.  The nation of Scotland mourned their own lost, comforted the families of the dead, and convicted one of the accused.

Yesterday, Scotland chose to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi from his life sentence and allowed him to return home to Libya to die of terminal prostate cancer. The speech by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill:

“Megrahi now faces a sentence imposed by a higher power. It is one that no court, in any jurisdiction, in any land, could revoke or overrule. It is terminal, final and irrevocable. He is going to die.

Compassion and mercy are about upholding the beliefs that we seek to live by, remaining true to our values as a people. No matter the severity of the provocation or the atrocity perpetrated. For these reasons, and these reasons alone, it is my decision that, now terminally ill with prostate cancer, he be released on compassionate grounds and allowed to return to Libya to die.”

This has made many Westerners angry. They feel it is disrespectful to the families of the victims.  Those who do wrong should suffer the full punishment of imprisonment until death, not be allowed to die at home with their families. And while I honor the loss of those who died in this ugly, senseless, cowardly act of violence,

I honor those who choose to rise above violence and retribution, and choose instead compassion and mercy.