Lebanon resumes executions after five-year lull

18 Jan, 2004

Lebanon resumed executions on Saturday after a five-year hiatus, putting to death three convicted killers, despite objections by human rights groups and the European Union.
"It is done," said Ibrahim al-Hariri, lawyer for two of the men.
The three men were executed in the courtyard of Beirut's Roumieh prison, two by firing squad and one by hanging.
They were the first executions carried out in Lebanon since President Emile Lahoud, who must sign off on every execution, came to office in late 1998.
Ahead of the executions, the European Union and human rights groups had called on Lebanon to abolish the death penalty.
"Beams of hope lit by a de facto five-year moratorium on the death penalty have been dimmed by Lebanon's decision to kill these men," Amnesty International said.
Dozens of Lebanese human rights activists had marched to parliament carrying black flags on Friday to try to prevent the executions, and others held an all-night vigil near the prison.

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