The General Assembly of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, at its 17th Congress in Hanoi, Vietnam, having received and considered reports that Mr. Abdul Bassit Al Megrahi, who is serving a sentence for the terrorist act over Lockerbie, is being denied human rights by the United Kingdom Government as follows:
1. Mr. Al Megrahi was granted by the Law Commission of Scotland the right to challenge the findings against him. Counsel for Mr. Al Megrahi were denied access to vital information in the possession of the prosecution, thus impeding their ability to conduct his appeal. The Prosecution relied in this denial on “national interest” grounds where the Home Secretary issued a “Public Interest Immunity” certificate. The General Assembly of the IADL considers this to be a denial of his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.
2. Furthermore, Mr. Al Megrahi is suffering from cancer, which has been certified by the prison doctor to be in an advanced stage and spreading rapidly. He is being denied appropriate medical treatment. Such a denial of human rights cannot be accepted from any country.
Now therefore the International Association of Democratic Lawyers:
a. Calls on the British government to provide the defence with documents so as to enable the defence to carry out their professional duties;
b. Calls on the British government to immediately provide Mr. Al Megrahi with all appropriate medical treatment to which he is entitled.