Abdelbaset al-Megrahi

===Medical condition===

===Medical condition===

Following the release, doubts were expressed whether Megrahi was as ill as claimed by MacAskill in his statement to the Scottish Parliament. The guidance on compassionate release of a terminally ill prisoner under Scottish law specifies that death must be likely to occur "soon"; there is no fixed time limit but a life expectancy of three months is suggested as "appropriate".{{cite news| author=Angus Macleod|author2=Magnus Linklater| title = New row over 'non-expert' cancer diagnosis of Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi| url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6812427.ece| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100106035256/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6812427.ece| url-status = dead| archive-date = 6 January 2010|work=[[The Times]]| date = 28 August 2009| access-date =28 August 2009| quote = Scottish Prison Service guidance says that compassionate release from prison 'may be considered where a prisoner is suffering from a terminal illness and death is likely to occur soon. There are no fixed time limits but life expectancy of less than three months may be considered an appropriate period'.| location=London}} The Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife and a Minister in the previous Labour administration, [[Richard Simpson (Scottish politician)|Dr Richard Simpson]], accused the Scottish justice minister of failing to conduct sufficient checks before deciding to release Megrahi.{{cite web |url=http://itn.co.uk/afa7e8af33044dc7d7d66e8e357ede97.html |title=Lockerbie bomber may live for months yet |work=ITN |date=26 August 2009 |access-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828000857/http://itn.co.uk/afa7e8af33044dc7d7d66e8e357ede97.html |archive-date=28 August 2009}} Dr Simpson, a former member of the British Association of Urological Surgeons' prostate cancer working group who specialised in prostate disease research, expressed doubt that Megrahi would die within the next three months and claimed that he could live for eight months, going on to say that, "Kenny MacAskill released him apparently on the advice of just one doctor whose status is not clear and who is not named." He added that a second specialist opinion in [[palliative care]] should have been sought before the release.{{cite news|last=Johnson |first=Simon |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/6089131/Lockerbie-bomber-Megrahi-may-live-for-many-more-months.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828041106/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/6089131/Lockerbie-bomber-Megrahi-may-live-for-many-more-months.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 August 2009 |title=Lockerbie bomber Megrahi 'may live for many more months' |work=The Telegraph|date=25 August 2009 |access-date=5 June 2010 | location=London}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyindia.com/show/330532.php |title=Lockerbie bomber Megrahi may live longer, prognosis under cloud |work=Daily India |access-date=5 June 2010 |archive-date=29 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829073628/http://www.dailyindia.com/show/330532.php |url-status=dead }} A source close to the justice secretary called Simpson's comments "tasteless" and added: "I really don't think we should be speculating on the day somebody is going to die."{{cite web|last=Maddox |first=David |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/Medical-advice--on-Libyan.5587119.jp |title=Medical advice on Libyan bomber 'in doubt'|work=The Scotsman|access-date=5 June 2010}}

Following the release, doubts were expressed whether Megrahi was as ill as claimed by MacAskill in his statement to the Scottish Parliament. The guidance on compassionate release of a terminally ill prisoner under Scottish law specifies that death must be likely to occur "soon"; there is no fixed time limit but a life expectancy of three months is suggested as "appropriate".{{cite news| author=Angus Macleod|author2=Magnus Linklater| title = New row over 'non-expert' cancer diagnosis of Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi| url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6812427.ece| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100106035256/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6812427.ece| url-status = dead| archive-date = 6 January 2010|work=[[The Times]]| date = 28 August 2009| access-date =28 August 2009| quote = Scottish Prison Service guidance says that compassionate release from prison 'may be considered where a prisoner is suffering from a terminal illness and death is likely to occur soon. There are no fixed time limits but life expectancy of less than three months may be considered an appropriate period'.| location=London}} The Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife and a Minister in the previous Labour administration, [[Richard Simpson (Scottish politician)|Dr Richard Simpson]], accused the Scottish justice minister of failing to conduct sufficient checks before deciding to release Megrahi.{{cite web |url=http://itn.co.uk/afa7e8af33044dc7d7d66e8e357ede97.html |title=Lockerbie bomber may live for months yet |work=ITN |date=26 August 2009 |access-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828000857/http://itn.co.uk/afa7e8af33044dc7d7d66e8e357ede97.html |archive-date=28 August 2009}} Dr Simpson, a former member of the [[British Association of Urological Surgeons]]' prostate cancer working group who specialised in prostate disease research, expressed doubt that Megrahi would die within the next three months and claimed that he could live for eight months, going on to say that, "Kenny MacAskill released him apparently on the advice of just one doctor whose status is not clear and who is not named." He added that a second specialist opinion in [[palliative care]] should have been sought before the release.{{cite news|last=Johnson |first=Simon |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/6089131/Lockerbie-bomber-Megrahi-may-live-for-many-more-months.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828041106/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/6089131/Lockerbie-bomber-Megrahi-may-live-for-many-more-months.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 August 2009 |title=Lockerbie bomber Megrahi 'may live for many more months' |work=The Telegraph|date=25 August 2009 |access-date=5 June 2010 | location=London}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyindia.com/show/330532.php |title=Lockerbie bomber Megrahi may live longer, prognosis under cloud |work=Daily India |access-date=5 June 2010 |archive-date=29 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829073628/http://www.dailyindia.com/show/330532.php |url-status=dead }} A source close to the justice secretary called Simpson's comments "tasteless" and added: "I really don't think we should be speculating on the day somebody is going to die."{{cite web|last=Maddox |first=David |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/Medical-advice--on-Libyan.5587119.jp |title=Medical advice on Libyan bomber 'in doubt'|work=The Scotsman|access-date=5 June 2010}}

On 27 August 2009, ''[[The Scotsman]]'', quoting an anonymous Scottish Government source, reported that MacAskill ignored the advice of four specialists who were unwilling to speculate on Megrahi's anticipated lifespan.{{cite news |first=David |last=Maddox|title=Ordinary prison GP – not cancer expert – told MacAskill bomber had three months to live |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/Ordinary-prison-GP--not.5592149.jp |work=The Scotsman |location=UK |date=27 August 2009 |access-date=27 August 2009}}

On 27 August 2009, ''[[The Scotsman]]'', quoting an anonymous Scottish Government source, reported that MacAskill ignored the advice of four specialists who were unwilling to speculate on Megrahi's anticipated lifespan.{{cite news |first=David |last=Maddox|title=Ordinary prison GP – not cancer expert – told MacAskill bomber had three months to live |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/Ordinary-prison-GP--not.5592149.jp |work=The Scotsman |location=UK |date=27 August 2009 |access-date=27 August 2009}}

In May 2014, a group of relatives of the Lockerbie victims continued to campaign for al-Megrahi's name to be cleared by reopening the case.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-27298089|title=BBC News – Lockerbie bombing: Megrahi conviction review sought by families|date=6 May 2014|work=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=10 May 2014}}

In May 2014, a group of relatives of the Lockerbie victims continued to campaign for al-Megrahi's name to be cleared by reopening the case.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-27298089|title=BBC News – Lockerbie bombing: Megrahi conviction review sought by families|date=6 May 2014|work=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=10 May 2014}}

On 5 June 2014, it was announced that Glasgow-based lawyer, Aamer Anwar, was instructed by immediate members of Al-Megrahi's family. Although Al-Megrahi had died from cancer following his compassionate release from prison an application was still being lodged with the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission seeking to review his case and return it to the appeal court as a miscarriage of justice. Aamer Anwar was also instructed by 24 British relatives of passengers who died on the flight, including Dr Jim Swire.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/megrahi-family-back-new-bid-to-clear-his-name.24418409|title=Megrahi family back new bid to clear his name|work=Herald Scotland|date=6 June 2014 }} In December 2014, [[Frank Mulholland]], the [[Lord Advocate]] (Scotland's senior law officer), restated his belief that al-Megrahi had been guilty of the bombing and that he was hopeful that progress might be made in the continuing investigation to find al-Megrahi's accomplices.{{cite web|title=Lockerbie bombing: senior law officer vows to track down Megrahi accomplices|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11306609/Lockerbie-bombing-senior-law-officer-vows-to-track-down-Megrahi-accomplices.html|work=The Telegraph|date=21 December 2014 |access-date=21 December 2014}}

On 5 June 2014, it was announced that Glasgow-based lawyer, [[Aamer Anwar]], was instructed by immediate members of Al-Megrahi's family. Although Al-Megrahi had died from cancer following his compassionate release from prison an application was still being lodged with the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission seeking to review his case and return it to the appeal court as a miscarriage of justice. Aamer Anwar was also instructed by 24 British relatives of passengers who died on the flight, including Dr Jim Swire.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/megrahi-family-back-new-bid-to-clear-his-name.24418409|title=Megrahi family back new bid to clear his name|work=Herald Scotland|date=6 June 2014 }} In December 2014, [[Frank Mulholland]], the [[Lord Advocate]] (Scotland's senior law officer), restated his belief that al-Megrahi had been guilty of the bombing and that he was hopeful that progress might be made in the continuing investigation to find al-Megrahi's accomplices.{{cite web|title=Lockerbie bombing: senior law officer vows to track down Megrahi accomplices|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11306609/Lockerbie-bombing-senior-law-officer-vows-to-track-down-Megrahi-accomplices.html|work=The Telegraph|date=21 December 2014 |access-date=21 December 2014}}

In December 2018 [[Eddie Fenech Adami]], Malta's [[Prime Minister]] at the time of the bombing, said "we have never accepted the theory" of how Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi transported the bomb from Malta to the UK and suggested that a miscarriage of justice had taken place.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/ex-leader-of-malta-casts-doubt-on-conviction-of-lockerbie-bomber-abdul-baset-ali-al-megrahi-8bfvpwtps|title=Ex-leader of Malta casts doubt on conviction of Lockerbie bomber Abdul Baset Ali al‑Megrahi|first=Marc|last=Horne|date=25 June 2023 |via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}

In December 2018 [[Eddie Fenech Adami]], Malta's [[Prime Minister]] at the time of the bombing, said "we have never accepted the theory" of how Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi transported the bomb from Malta to the UK and suggested that a miscarriage of justice had taken place.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/ex-leader-of-malta-casts-doubt-on-conviction-of-lockerbie-bomber-abdul-baset-ali-al-megrahi-8bfvpwtps|title=Ex-leader of Malta casts doubt on conviction of Lockerbie bomber Abdul Baset Ali al‑Megrahi|first=Marc|last=Horne|date=25 June 2023 |via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}