Earlier today the Scottish Government agreed to the compassionate release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, previously convicted of the Lockerbie bombing. I thought I would post some brief thoughts on this.
1. Correct me, O Lord, but in justice;
not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing. Jer 10:24.
I'm not sure that justice and anger go well together. We rejoice in this prayer of Jeremiah's, do we then choose to live in anger rather than justice?
2. Why is the statue of justice blindfolded? To be just, justice must be impartial. There is an element of penalty in all sentencing, but only an element. Is the principle purpose of sentencing punishment? Is there not another purpose served? I'm not comfortable with the wishes of victims of crime for retribution having a substantial claim over the course of justice.
3. Compassion is not weakness. Compassion is a strong, motivating emotion. We do well to heed the claims of compassion.
4. I really don't like being lectured by American politicians on justice. If they had captures Mr Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, no doubt he would have been detained without trial, incarcerated in a prison wearing an orange jump suit and being regularly tortured.
5. We can't only have compassion on high profile prisonners who are Lybian. The claims of compassion extend to all in our prisons where need arises.
6. No 2 above does not seek to diminish the pain experienced by victims of crime, rather we should live in a society where justice is prized and compassion for all is practiced.
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