Parliament ends capital punishment after more than two decades without executions as EU and Amnesty welcome landmark decision
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s parliament abolished the death penalty on Tuesday and converted all existing death sentences into life imprisonment, marking a major change in the country’s criminal justice system.
The office of the parliamentary speaker announced the decision in a statement but did not provide details of the vote count.
The move makes Lebanon the first country in the Middle East to formally abolish capital punishment. Although Lebanese courts continued issuing death sentences, authorities had maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 2004.
Consequently, dozens of prisoners remained technically on death row despite the absence of executions for more than two decades.
Lebanese law previously allowed courts to impose capital punishment for serious offences, including murder and treason.
Parliament Converts Moratorium Into Formal Abolition
Lebanese lawmakers submitted legislation last year seeking to eliminate the death penalty permanently.
Tuesday’s parliamentary decision therefore transformed the longstanding suspension of executions into a formal legal prohibition.
Meanwhile, the European Union welcomed Lebanon’s decision and described the country as setting a powerful example for other states across the Middle East and beyond.
Rights Groups Welcome Landmark Reform
Amnesty International also praised the decision, calling it a major milestone for human rights.
Heba Morayef, Amnesty’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said the abolition turned Lebanon’s lengthy but potentially reversible halt in executions into lasting legal protection.
Furthermore, she said the reform strengthened the right to life and brought Lebanon into line with the growing international movement against capital punishment.
The decision comes as Lebanese lawmakers separately consider legislation that could provide a general amnesty for certain offences.
Authorities are examining that proposal partly as a measure to address persistent overcrowding inside Lebanon’s prison system.
The abolition now removes capital punishment from Lebanese law while ensuring prisoners previously sentenced to death will instead serve life terms.
