Fadi Maraash, 20, convicted by the Military Tribunal...

Fadi Maraash, 20, convicted by the Military Tribunal in 2000 of murdering his neighbor, Aisha Aisha, 19, despite diagnosed as a schizophrenic, had his death sentence approved by all of the authorities - including President Emile Lahoud, who postponed his execution until after the holidays. Ten execution decrees for convicted murderers have been transferred to the Justice Ministry recently. Human-rights lawyer Wael Kheir said Maraash's execution, if it takes place, will be a black mark in the country's history. Walid Slaybi, coordinator of the Movement for People's Rights' anti-death penalty campaign, argued that the death penalty could actually encourage murder. Justice Minister Samir Jisr said the Maraash case could still be re-opened but insisted that the death penalty was important as a deterrent.