The question of whether or not the death penalty should be abolished is much debated worldwide. The moral question of whether a human being is entitled to end another human being’s life is one of the most difficult to answer. In Lebanon this moral issue has a somewhat different spin, or so it seems from a letter sent by one Lebanese woman to a readers’ forum on the internet edition of the Saudi daily ‘Ukaz.
Lebanon is a country recovering from a protracted civil war. It is a country with a population divided between three major religious groups: Shi’ite Muslims, Sunni Muslims, and Maronite Christians. The ruling institutions are also divided between the three, in accordance with the Ta’ef agreement of 1989.
This fragile balance was the cause of at least one unjustified execution on Saturday in Lebanon, says Nahida Mawlawi in the ‘Ukaz forum. “Can you imagine? Death penalty decisions in our country are taken according to a sectarian fashion. Death in Lebanon is decided by decision makers on a ‘6-6 basis’ [Mawlawi is hinting at the Lebanese system for the division of political power]. Can you comprehend?”
Mawlawi goes on to say that the Shi’ite and Maronite who were executed were clearly guilty of premeditated murder. “But was the Sunni guilty as well? As I mentioned before, it was necessary to pick a Sunni criminal in order to establish the sectarian equilibrium. This criminal was surprised by security personnel who broke into his house. He did not know they were from the Justice Police and killed them thinking he was merely defending himself…To his last day, the prisoner claimed he was innocent, and that he did not plan the murder.”
Mawlawi further questions the morality of the death penalty, and concludes by saying: “I am saddened by this issue which constitutes a big problem in a country such as Lebanon, a country diversified by sects and schools of thought. Shame on you my country!!”
The Lebanese Supreme Court executed three convicted murderers on Saturday. The court decided on the executions despite fierce international protests. This was the first time the death penalty has been implemented in Lebanon since President Emil Lahoud came into power in 1998.