Lebanon's parliament has voted to end capital punishment, making it the first country in the Middle East to formally abolish the death penalty. The move comes after decades of campaigning by human rights groups and follows a 20-year gap since the last execution in 2004.
Lebanon's parliament voted on Tuesday to abolish capital punishment, a decision that positions the country as a regional pioneer on criminal justice reform. The law will replace death sentences with life imprisonment involving hard labour for the most serious crimes, including murder, terrorism, and espionage. Justice Minister Adel Nassar described the abolition as historically significant, noting that the previous existence of capital punishment had complicated extradition agreements with countries where the death penalty has been outlawed.
The achievement reflects years of advocacy by human rights organisations and civil society groups working within Lebanon. Amnesty International documented that at least 85 individuals remained on death row as of January, though no executions have been carried out since 2004. Human Rights Watch characterised the decision as a watershed moment for human rights protection in the country, while Amnesty International called for authorities to commute existing death sentences and ratify international abolition treaties as follow-up measures.
International bodies have responded positively to Lebanon's decision. The United Nations, European Union, and France all praised the move, with UN rights chief Volker Turk urging other Middle Eastern nations to adopt similar measures. This stands in contrast to regional trends, where executions remain widespread—Amnesty International recorded over 2,000 executions in Iran and more than 350 in Saudi Arabia in the previous year. Jordan also reinstated capital punishment earlier this year after a nine-year moratorium.
The vote represents part of broader legislative activity in Lebanon's current session and reflects the country's repeated support for UN moratoriums on the death penalty. Implementation challenges remain, as human rights groups stress the importance of converting the legal framework into practical reform within Lebanon's justice system.
