Last week, Lebanon lost 24-year-old engineering student Roy Hamoush to a violent road rage shooting.
In the aftermath of the horrific crime, many people called for the death sentence to be reinstated, with Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk promising the victim's parents to discuss the matter with President Michel Aoun this week.
According to The Daily Star, Machnouk said that he hopes "that the death penalty is implemented again and that it becomes a lesson to all others."
Lebanon has an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty and has not carried out an execution since 2004. Machnouk, however, plans to push for capital punishment regardless of complaints from international organizations.
"I know we would have European, Western, or even international opposition," he said. "But we have a situation of deranged people carrying weapons."
Many people in the country expressed agreement with Machnouk, launching an online petition in support of the death penalty. The petition garnered over 1,500 signatures.
But, not everyone agrees.
The move received heavy criticism from both the Lebanese and international community - including Human Rights Watch - calling the decision a "step in the wrong direction."
"Resumption of executions would be a step in the wrong direction," the HRW report wrote.
The report went on to say that if Lebanon reinstates the death penalty, it would be a major step back especially considering the "lack of due process in Lebanese courts."
What does that mean?
"Human Rights Watch found in 2017 that military courts, which have broad jurisdiction over civilians and retain the death penalty, do not guarantee due process rights. Those who have stood trial in military court describe the use of confessions extracted under torture, decisions issued without an explanation, seemingly arbitrary sentences, and a limited ability to appeal," the report says.
Also, there is no guarantee that executions would decrease the crime rate in the country.
"A resumption of executions would constitute a troubling setback for Lebanon, without making the country safer or deterring crime. Studies have consistently found there is no clear evidence that the death penalty deters crime."
In 2010, a number of politicians also called for the reinstatement of capital punishment. Then-president Michel Suleiman said he would approve death sentences issued by military tribunals, who try the majority of spying and terrorism cases.