(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in Britain believe Libyan national Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi should have remained in a Scottish prison to serve the remainder of his sentence, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 48 per cent of respondents would have kept Megrahi incarcerated at the Greenock facility.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in Britain believe Libyan national Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi should have remained in a Scottish prison to serve the remainder of his sentence, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 48 per cent of respondents would have kept Megrahi incarcerated at the Greenock facility.
While 31 per cent of respondents would have consented to transferring Megrahi to a Libyan jail to serve the remainder of his prison term, only 15 per cent agree with releasing him on compassionate grounds.
In 2001, Megrahi was convicted to a minimum term of 27 years for his role in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in December 1988. Earlier this year, Megrahi was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer and his advisers requested that he be freed on compassionate grounds.
On Aug. 20, Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill agreed to release Megrahi on compassionate grounds, saying, "It is quite clear to the medical experts he has a terminal illness and indeed that there recently has been a significant deterioration in his health. (…) Scotland will forever remember the crime that has been perpetrated against our people and those from many other lands, the pain and suffering will remain forever."
British Conservative party leader David Cameron expressed dismay, saying, "I think this is wrong and it’s the product of some completely nonsensical thinking, in my view. This man was convicted of murdering 270 people, he showed no compassion to them, they weren’t allowed to go home and die with their relatives in their own bed and I think this is a very bad decision."
Yesterday, MacAskill defended his decision, saying, "I strictly followed due process." MacAskill also discussed Megrahi’s impressive welcome upon his arrival in Libya, saying, "It is a matter of great regret that Mr. al-Megrahi was received in such an inappropriate manner."
Polling Data
As you may know, Libyan national Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 27 years for his role in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in December 1988. Megrahi has been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. His advisers have requested that he be freed from the Greenock prison (near Glasgow) on compassionate grounds. Which of these options would you prefer in this case?
|
Keeping Megrahi in the Greenock prison to serve the remainder of his sentence |
48% |
|
Transferring Megrahi to a Libyan jail to serve the remainder of his sentence |
31% |
|
Releasing Megrahi on compassionate grounds |
15% |
|
Not sure |
7% |
Source: Angus Reid Strategies
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,133 British adults, conducted from Aug. 20 to Aug. 23, 2009. Margin of error is 2.9 per cent.
