Execution of Troy Davis in U.S. sparked controversy around world . World figures , human rights , commentators urged execution to be halted . Troy Davis may be dead , but his execution Thursday in the American state of Georgia has made him the poster boy for the global movement to end the death penalty . EU , French and German governments expressed ` ` deep concern '' Social media users said execution would spark new civil rights movement .
Execution of Troy Davis in U.S. sparked controversy around world . World figures , human rights , commentators urged execution to be halted . EU , French and German governments expressed ` ` deep concern '' Social media users said execution would spark new civil rights movement .