A member of the defence team representing Abu Ajila Masoud, the Libyan citizen accused of involvement in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, has publicly questioned the absence of results from the Libyan Attorney General’s investigation into Masoud’s controversial extradition to the United States. It has been over two years since the Libyan prosecution announced the launch of an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his transfer, yet no findings have been published.
In a statement to Al-Wasat newspaper, lawyer Mohamed Ben Dardaf expressed his deep concern over what he described as a “prolonged silence” from the Libyan judicial authorities. He recalled Attorney General Al-Siddiq Al-Sour’s December 2024 remarks about the opening of a formal investigation into the legality of Masoud’s extradition, which reportedly lacked proper legal procedures. “The continued delay in releasing the results of this investigation undermines public trust in Libya’s justice system,” Ben Dardaf warned.
The controversy surrounding Masoud’s extradition continues to fuel political and legal debates within Libya. His family remains vocal in opposing his detention in the US, describing it as illegal and lacking judicial legitimacy. Recently, his son, Hisham, criticised the latest decision by a US judge to delay Masoud’s trial indefinitely. The family labelled the postponement as a “deliberate obstruction” of justice, accusing both the prosecution and defence in the US of colluding against Masoud’s interests.
The US prosecution justified the delay by citing the complex nature of the case and the need for additional time to review evidence from other countries. However, the family sees this as a tactic to prolong Masoud’s detention without trial.
Masoud’s family maintains his innocence and continues to demand his immediate release. They argue he has consistently denied any involvement in the Lockerbie bombing and call on both Libyan and international authorities to secure his freedom.
