Pan Am Flight 103 bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was released from prison on compassionate grounds because it was said he only had months to live. But two and a half years later, he is now declaring his innocence in a collection of ‘deathbed memoirs’ to be published next week.

Susan Cohen, mother of Syracuse University victim Theodora, said the idea of the book is ‘utterly despicable and disgusting’ and that the book is ‘based off no ground belief.’

‘This has been happening for years,’ she said. ‘With every crime comes a conspiracy theory, and this is no different. It’s all propaganda — the truth is exactly what it appears to be.’

Al-Megrahi, of Libya, was convicted for the 1988 terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which left 270 people dead, including 35 SU students returning home from study abroad programs.

Al-Megrahi was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer approximately eight and a half years into his life sentence and given three months to live by doctors. Despite the prognosis, he was seen televised at a pro-Gadhafi rally during the Libyan civil war this year. In late August, he was reportedly comatose.

To avoid a public backlash, profits from book sales will be handed to charities and the convicted terrorist himself will receive none of the cash, according to a Feb. 21 article in the UK Daily Mail.

It is suspected, though, that one of the first beneficiaries receiving the revenue will likely be a group that has publicly supported the Libyan in his attempts to clear his name. This raises fears al-Megrahi will indirectly profit from the campaign attempting to prove his innocence, according to the article.

Cohen said no self-respecting charity should take a dime from the publication. She believes al-Megrahi is guilty, and in 23 years no real evidence has risen.

‘If he had anything to say about his innocence, it could have been said at the trial,’ she said. ‘People forget the trial had a lot of publicity and that he had a great defense team. If he was framed, he did not testify. He knows the truth, which is that he did this terrible crime.’

Cohen said she finds it suspicious that the writer of the book, John Ashton, has what she calls a ‘close relationship’ with the Gadhafi regime. She also finds it strange that al-Megrahi, who is ‘supposed to be a dying man,’ could help write the book in his current condition.

Al-Megrahi was last seen in December, when he gave an interview from what was thought to be his deathbed, in Tripoli. In addition to declaring his innocence, he claimed to have had little knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Col. Moammar al Gadhafi’s overthrow. He also stated opposition fighters had invaded his home and mistreated him, according to the article.

The book may create embarrassment for the Scottish government and the Labour Party, whose ministers made the controversial decision to free al-Megrahi. But documents have arose since, which show that the Labour Party secretly assisted in freeing al-Megrahi to appease Gadhafi, who threatened to end oil contracts and unleash war on Great Britain, according to the article.

Suse Lowenstein, mother of victim Alexander, said that one has to recognize al-Megrahi is self-serving in publishing his memoirs. She said she had been present at most of his trial in the Netherlands and that there is no doubt in her mind he is guilty and acted on Gadhafi’s behalf.

‘Frankly, I wish he would die already so that he, like Gaddafi, will not have the pleasure of enjoying life,’ she said in an email. ‘I am tired of seeing Megrahi on his so called ‘death bed’ for the last 2 1/2 years.’

She said she also thinks the proceeds of the book should be donated to the people of Lockerbie who bore a giant part of the horror.

Kevin Quinn, SU’s senior vice president for public affairs, said the university’s thoughts remain with the families of the victims and that they continue to honor those who were lost.

‘The emotional impact on the families brought by the news of this publication will disrupt bringing closure to those most impacted,’ he said in an email. ‘The families and supporters continue to seek justice for their loved ones who were killed more than 23 years ago. As always, SU stands in support of them moving forward.’

Cohen said the story remains exactly as it appears — that Gadhafi sent someone from intelligence services to ‘blow up the plane.’

‘It’s all just propaganda. The book is worth nothing,’ she said. ‘He should have remained in the Scottish cell and died there.’

meltagou@syr.edu 

Published on February 21, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Marwa: meltagou@syr.edu | @marwaeltagouri