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// DOSSIER — lebanon-parliament-votes-abolish-death-penalty
Lebanon Parliament Votes to Abolish Death Penalty
REL_TIME: 13 Aug 2026 00:52Z · LANG: EN
Lebanon's parliament passed landmark legislation to abolish capital punishment, becoming the first country in the Middle East and Arab world to do so. The law replaces the death penalty with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labor. Supported by a majority of the 128-member assembly, the measure was opposed by Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc. The decision formalizes an unofficial execution moratorium observed since 2004 and comes amid parliamentary debates over a controversial general amnesty bill.
// Background
Lebanon has observed an unofficial moratorium on executions since January 2004, though courts continued issuing death sentences, leaving 85 individuals on death row by the end of 2025. Questions remain regarding how aggravated hard labor will be enforced given resource shortages and overcrowded prison conditions in Lebanon.
// Key Developments
- Lebanon becomes the first Middle Eastern and Arab country to formally abolish capital punishment.
- Capital punishment is replaced by life imprisonment with aggravated hard labor.
- A majority of the 128-seat parliament voted in favor of the bill, with Hezbollah's bloc opposing.
- Rights organizations praised the vote for turning an informal moratorium into permanent legal protection.
- The legislation coincides with contentious parliamentary debates over a sweeping general amnesty law.
// Timeline
-
Lebanon enters an unofficial moratorium on death penalty executions.
-
Statistics from the Ministry of Justice show 85 individuals facing death sentences.
-
Lebanese parliament votes to abolish capital punishment and replace it with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labor.
// Perspectives
[Lebanese Justice Ministry]
Supportive of the legislation, describing the passage as a historic step for the nation.
[Human Rights Organizations (Amnesty International, HRW)]
Highly supportive, celebrating the abolition as a victory for human rights and legal protection of the right to life.
[Hezbollah Parliamentary Bloc]
Opposed to the measure, voting against the legislation in parliament.
[Families of Slain Servicemen]
Opposed to sentence reductions, expressing a preference for capital punishment for perpetrators of violence.
// Quotes
“historic step”
“a major milestone and a victory for human rights in the country”
“marking a final break from a cruel sentence that should never be imposed.”
