HRW WARNS LEBANON AGAINST BRINGING BACK DEATH PENALTY

Human Rights Watch has urged Lebanon to respect its moratorium on the death penalty after calls for its reinstatement following the murder of a young student that shocked the country.
Capital punishment is legal in Lebanon, but there has been an effective moratorium in place since 2004, without any executions carried out despite judgements to that effect.
"Ending its moratorium on executions would only serve to tarnish Lebanon's human rights record," HRW said in a statement.
On June 9, Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouk called for the "reintroduction of the death penalty", in particular for "intentional crimes".
His remarks came in response to the murder of Roy Hamoush, a 24-year-old student, who was reportedly shot dead after a traffic dispute a week ago.
According to the details of the investigation cited in the media, his car had slightly hit another, enraging the three assailants.
His murder is the latest in a growing number of people killed on the street or in broad daylight in Lebanon, often for minor reasons.