Mashnouq on ISF Anniversary Calls for Restoring Capital Punishment

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq called on Friday for restoring the death penalty in light of the spiking number of crime and premeditated murder.

“I hereby call for restoring the capital punishment in light of an increase in crime and deliberate killings, because judicial decisions do not deter the criminals,” said Mashnouq in a speech marking the 156th anniversary of the foundation of the Internal Security Forces under the patronage of President Michel Aoun.

Representing Aoun, the Minister referred to the most recent crime that took the life of a young man, Roy al-Hamoush, who was murdered in cold blood at dawn on Wednesday.

"I will do everything I can to protect the citizens' right to security," pledged Mashnouq.

Intentional killings over “traffic priority”, personal disputes and other trivial encounters have spiraled lately in the country with the Minister describing it as a “mental disorderliness” that needs to be addressed through death penalty perhaps it might deter criminals.

Hamoush was killed on Wednesday after a car accident that led to a dispute that soon escalated into a car pursuit. The suspects managed to intercept Roy and his friend in the Karantina area where Hamoush was shot dead.

The last execution in Lebanon took place in 2004.

At least 40 individuals and as many as 62 individuals were on death row as of January 2010. In 2010 there were 4 death sentences and no executions.

Despite the significant time since the last execution, capital punishment continues to be a sentence in court.