“No one nation should be complainant, prosecutor and judge.”
Nelson Mandela
On Justice and Lockerbie
Edinburgh, Scotland
October 1997
July 18, 2026 — Today, we celebrate Mandela International Day. Arrested following information provided by the CIA to the South African authorities, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for nearly three decades. On February 11, 1990, he walked out of prison and embarked on a decade of historic endeavour.
President of South Africa from May 10, 1994, to June 14, 1999, Mandela was still on the U.S. terrorism watch list when he met President Bill Clinton at the White House during an official visit on October 4, 1994.
There are countless reasons to admire this great statesman. Mandela stood for love, truth, and justice. His determination to challenge the official Lockerbie narrative is, in my view, a remarkable example of intellectual courage. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY
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A few months ago, a Lockerbie investigator asked me a question that led me into deep introspection:
Hypothetically, how would I react if I were asked to help defend Abu Agila Masud, the Libyan man accused of assembling the bomb that destroyed Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie on December 21, 1988?
The question forced me to reflect on the nature of intellectual responsibility and the obligations that come with seeking truth. I imagined fictional conversations with my heroes who have lived across the last three millennia.
Despite my initial reluctance, I reached the conclusion that I would have no choice but to accept.
Having studied the case for the last 30 years, I am convinced that he is innocent. I also believe that if his lawyers follow the strategy used in previous trials, the verdict is a foregone conclusion.
In that case, Masud will almost certainly be found guilty and could potentially face the death penalty. As the saying goes, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
All things considered, there is one — and only one — hope of finally bringing justice to this case.
Let us ask the prosecutors to prove that a crime was committed. Where is the evidence that a bomb exploded on Pan Am 103?
In truth, there is no evidence that a bomb exploded on Pan Am 103. The alleged detection of Semtex residues was strongly challenged at trial by an expert witness, who concluded that the findings were the result of contamination, and I believe the evidence overwhelmingly supports that conclusion.
Moreover, I am convinced that PT/35(b) — the infamous timer fragment — was planted among the debris at Lockerbie in order to establish a link to Libya.
The scientific evidence indicating that PT/35(b) was fabricated is, in my view, overwhelming. This is precisely why I believe the prosecution is currently seeking to avoid an expert confrontation at the upcoming trial.
If Mandela taught us anything, it is that the search for truth and justice must continue, even when the path is difficult and the consequences uncomfortable.
In the end, the pursuit of truth is not about defending individuals. It is about defending the principle that justice must never be sacrificed for convenience.
The greatest test of intellectual courage is not defending ideas that are popular, but standing for what is right when doing so carries a cost.
The quest for Lockerbie truth is far from over. On this Mandela International Day 2026, let us resolve that it must continue until justice is finally done.
REFERENCES
Davies, Caroline. Tony Blair urged Nelson Mandela not to discuss Lockerbie trial, papers show. The Guardian, 20 July 2021.
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Mandela International Day 2026 | The Quest for Lockerbie Truth Must Continue
“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
(July 18, 1918 – Dec. 5, 2013)
Intel Today 