It doesn't happen often, but at times like this I'm proud to be British. The cheating of Mr Raissi is probably small beer compared with some of the other things we've done on behalf of the torturers and perverts, but we can and should do the decent thing and compensate our victim in this case.

Andy Dyer, London, UK,

For all the comments already listed - both funny and serious - where are the ones asking who is going to make the police and the CPS answer for this. They have pandered to US prejudice, wasted taxpayers money, wasted the court's time, and that's before we even get to effects on the poor individual concerned.
HOW MANY POLICE OFFICERS AND LAWYERS ARE GOING TO JAIL BECAUSE OF THIS FARCE??

KR, Stockport,

Martin. I agree with you. However, as a civilized society, we must ensure that everyone is treated fairly and equally under the law. Terrorism and extremism must be addressed, but the basic rights of the indivisual must be respected.

Hamad Lone, London, England

how come the british taxpayer is going to have this guy compensation when we acting on bahalf of the USA?

Garth Wiseman, london, england

Quite rightly we should compensate Mr Raissi for his appalling treatment he has received.
Yet again the taxpayer has to pay for inept government and the lies of the state police.
Shame on the the ones arguing against this, you are NOT fit to live in a decent country, then again, none of us do in the UK

Tab-a Sadam, West Yorkshire, UK

I do wish there was anything in the islamic world that would even come close to the British justice system. That muslims in the Western world enjoy the same rights as christians or people of any other faith is something that to Muslims seems quite natural and only fair. Maybe just as natural as the fact that non-muslims are discriminated against in much of the muslim world (after all they are just bleeding infidels ...)?

Martin Gheczy, Lucerne, Switzerland

The rule of law and due process is beginning to return to this country as the judges begin to fight back at the Blairite "guilt by accusation" police state.

In recent days we have seen a judge abolish the gestapo-esque thought-crimes agenda, and now another judge has dared contradict the anti-freedom authoritarian tendencies of Blairite ministers.

Is there any surprise that the Metropolitan Police routinely breaks the 1,000 year-old legal privelege of confidentiality between lawyer and client when it's chief secretly bugged conversations between him and the country's leading legal officials.

If the nation cannot rely on its discredited, snouts-in-trough members of parliament, at least we can rely on the judges to protect our liberties.

Time to abolish state tyranny.

Ben Franklin, Freetown, Liberia

Many people forget about the high feelings after 9/11 and other terrorist atrocities, notably those in London. Mr Raissi's arrest was a mistake, it seems. Fine. It happens often, in every country. There were other mistakes, such as Jean Charles de Menezes's.

But the extremists started it, not us. Had all these atrocities not happened, there would have been no Raissi case and no Menezes death. Some cynics could call it collateral damage.

It seems Mr Raissi is trying to make a buck out of the British taxpayer. Give him what he's owed and kick him out. He's Algerian, he's got no right to be here.

Peter, London,

£2m - not bad pay for 5 months inconvenience. Where do I apply for this wonderful opportunity at the UK taxpayers expense

Steven, Chalfont,

David, Nigel, I believe you are both missing the point that the pilot had no invovlement in 9/11. The only reason he was held etc was because he happened to go to the same flight school.
I would assume that neither of you would like to be held without trial just on the off chance you may have been involved based on zero evidence.
David, I truely hope that one day actual justice will be done for your suffering.

Conoe, Belfast, Ireland

They call it the information age, this just confirms it's the compensation age we're all living in - further confirmed by another news story I heard this morning about William Hill who are being sued by a customer, because they didn't stop him.

Perhaps in the case of Mr. Raissi though, he deserves any compensation he will receive because there is no evidence that proves he is a terrorist, particularly as his career as a pilot lies in ruins.

Hassan Azam, Banbury , Oxfordshire, England

When a person; such as Mr. Raissi, is arrested under the Terrorism Act in such a typical manner; and by that I mean early morning raid on his home, public arrest etc. Then the Police must have cause for such action, and I am sure that in this case they believed they did. If in the end however, it is shown that the Police made a mistake or their intelligence was incorrect, then they must bare the burden of apology. In a case such as this, where a man has built a career in aviation; one that take many years of training and qualification, to have that career halted and essentially made worthless, it is incumbent upon the police and the courts to ensure that this man “gets his life back”. I personally believe that the Police; and in this particular case due to the very public nature of it the government, should apologize and give this man every opportunity to rebuild his life, his career and his relationships.

It is understandable that in today’s world there will be early morning raids on homes etc and it is understandable that the police are doing the job that we ask of them. But it should also be ‘understandable’ that sometimes (though they hate to admit it – and sometimes cannot admit it) the police get it wrong and there must be a system to put back the lives that are shattered as a result of those unfortunate events.

David Parrack, Dubai, UAE

What a terrible mark of shame this has caused the authorities.

To get a guilty verdict at any cost is not new to them.

I shudder to think of the no doubt many others incarcerated in jails who shouldn't be there.

Thankfully the appeal process is still untainted.

They can't compensate this man enough.

richard, bangkok,

Dear Mr. MacDonald,

As a criminal lawyer for 32 years, my experience is that anyone can get wrongly or rightly accused,you pray then that there is someone good and brave enough to give you a good defence.

You should thank someone, that you still have an independent court of Appeal, who are not the lackies of the ruling party of the day, maybe you'd feel more comfortable living in Pakistan at the moment, their judges seem to do what the powers that be ,wish them to do.

I do wish that you will have your door kicked in by the police at 5 a.m. and a gun shoved in your face, if you are lucky they shoot you 7 times in the head and call it a sad mistake like some poor Brazilian.

If you are not lucky they persecute you and destroy your life and family and incarcerate you and after 10 years, someone might say you are innocent and it was all a bad mistake.

I am sure you will understand and because you are a Christian you will forgive those who trespassed against you and not seek damages.

Alberto Eduardo Noronha, Maitland, N.S.W., Australia

"Further proof that the Law in this country has nothing to do with Law or Justice, but the manipulation of legal technicalities. How many more terrorists are the Court of Appeal going to let free - perhaps they should be made a target. - Nigel MacDonald, Camborne, UK"

Really? I thought we were telling those Iraqis that we, the greatest democracy of all, are the epitome of law and justice. Make up your mind.

It is the selective perception and narrow-mindedness of people like you that gets us into these messes in the first place. It would defeat the point of the principles of karma for one to hope that karma finds you.

MC, London,

Just to add to Mr Knight's comments, this bloke had no connection whatsoever with any of the terrorists.

Rob, Brum, UK

Let us hope Mr MacDonald you do not have the 'bad luck' to have your door kicked in at 3am in the morning, perhaps you would have a different view then. Just to clarify there was no evidence then (2001) or now (2008) and one assumes in the intervening years of this man having anything to do with the crime. Your facts are also wrong the Court of Appeal did not release him, he has never been charged or convicted of anything at all connected with the attacks. Law and justice should be about the right person or people being convicted of the right crime. Unfortunately, not for the first time and certainly not the last the CPS and the police have got it wrong. Hopefully your door is not next.

Mr Knight, London, England

Further proof that the Law in this country has nothing to do with Law or Justice, but the manipulation of legal technicalities. How many more terrorists are the Court of Appeal going to let free - perhaps they should be made a target.

Nigel MacDonald, Camborne, UK

It's sad to hear of your suffering David.
However, that does not excuse the fact that this man's life was destroyed for nothing and that he was denied justice by our government. He deserves justice, exoneration and compensation.
As do you. If there were true justice in the world, you would be able to sue the US government. Sadly, that's not possible.
I wish you the best, as I do Mr Raissi.

Liberte, London, England

Who can I sue over the years of PTSD and suicidal depression I have suffered since experiencing 9/11. Since that fateful day in New York I have been through my own hell; my career has been interrupted and my family life is in turmoil. 9/11 triggered such a dreadful time for me that it is only now that I am slowly and with much help from doctors finding my feet again. Who can I sue?

David Turnbull, London, United Kingdom