In the August issue of the FREE PRESBYTERIAN MAGAZINE there was published an article entitled “The Hasson Trial” which contained a number of statements which we now know to be untrue. Rev. Hasson’s legal representative, Mr Joseph Beltrami, informs us that his client never fled from Scotland to Canada on a charge of embezzling funds, nor was any such allegation made by the Police authorities.
We are pleased to withdraw unreservedly all inferences, suggestions and allegations which imply that Rev. Hasson was a criminal fleeing from justice, that he ever misrepresented his ministerial status, that he ever bought guns and equipment for guerilla warfare against the Israeli, or that he at any time during the trial and thereafter admitted to being guilty. In fact, it has been brought to our attention that in the highest Court in the land, the High Court of Justiciary, Rev. Hasson on Appeal was completely cleared of all charges and allegations made against him, by the Appeal Court Judges on 14th July, 1971.
We deeply regret that we were betrayed by inaccurate newspaper reporting into idle speculation about Rev. Hasson’s racial origins and childhood associations, and we apologise to Rev. Hasson’s foster-parents in Kiltarlity, Tiree and Portree for any embarrassment caused to them by our publication of such ill-advised comment. We further regret that we accepted without examination a newspaper allegation that Rev. Hasson had carelessly repudiated his ministry within the Christian Church, an allegation which Rev. Hasson vehemently denies.
In conclusion Rev. Hasson wishes us to remind all believing Christians of the Divine Commandment found in the Word of God in Exodus, chapter 20, verse 16, and re-affirmed by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 19 at verse 18.
Therefore, for our part, we unreservedly withdraw all imputations against the character and the conduct of Rev. Alan G. Hasson which were contained in the August 1971 issue of our magazine.