The Case Against The Death Penalty In Lebanon

A very persuasive column by Nadim Houry and Sirine Shebaya of Human Rights Watch. If you oppose the death penalty in Lebanon, you should spread it around. If you don’t, please read it with an open mind.

Lebanon has not executed anyone since 2004, and to resume executions now would be a step in the wrong direction. This is not a popular position to hold these days. With the almost daily discovery of alleged spies, anyone criticizing the death penalty incurs scorn for being “soft” on those conspiring against the country, or its efforts to combat espionage. This is precisely what makes it important to bring the issue into focus once again — before political expediency undermines the advances Lebanon has made in recent years toward abolishing capital punishment.

The HRW even got access to some of those sentenced to death

Human Rights Watch has gathered testimony from numerous detainees held by Military Intelligence and the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces — the two main security agencies investigating cases of espionage and the actions of the armed Salafists. Many told us security officers beat and tortured them during interrogation to extract confessions.

There’s much more in the article. Check it out.

Bonus: If you’re really into the topic, check out the similar case that was made by Hazem Saghiyeh last week in Now Lebanon: “Send them to the gallow”