And after all that, now people are suggesting that justice was not actually served in the Lockerbie case. And the xenophobia goes on, and who knows how long and far the newspapers had to search to find examples of 'muslims' butchering women and children, and they are still searching out similar cases to report in the present day. Truth, tolerance and justice would really be so much nicer, wouldn't it.

After the distractions of their first six months in office, the Government is finally facing a serious and specific problem that has been with us now for almost nine years. With Tony Blair meeting Nelson Mandela, Robin Cook meeting Jim Swire, and others, like Professor Robert Black, trying to break the deadlock, perhaps we are at last approaching an endgame to the Lockerbie disaster that may bring hope of some kind of justice.

The prospects of justice are not really helped, however, by any suggestion that we might feel there's only one place in the world there can be justice - and that's here. Of course Scots Law has a right to try the case, but could it not also have the grace to allow it to be tried elsewhere.

For a suggestion of old colonial attitudes, that our institutions are intrinsically superior, is not only to be found in the self-aggrandising outbursts of the more rabid bigots amongst us. It can be seen in a xenophobia underlying much news coverage of the muslim world, with simplistic analysis of the politics of events, reinforcing the perception of Us and Them. It's important to intercultural relationships if we really think that it's impossible for a westerner to get justice in the muslim world.

Yet more important, is that it be understood that butchering village women and children should not be described as muslim in any way. Muslims also yearn for justice, just like you. But justice across national and cultural boundaries requires some recognition of equivalence. It would be nice if the meeting of Commonwealth Governmental Heads proved a springboard for a greater recognition of the universality of questions of justice, highlighting the intercultural relevance of achieving justice for the victims of Lockerbie.

Qur'an says: "You who believe, stand steadfast before God as witnesses for justice, even though it is against yourselves, your own parents or your own close relatives; whether it concerns a rich or a poor man, God stands closer to them both. Do not follow any passion so that you may deal justly. If you twist or turn away, God is still informed of what you do."