Lebanon parliament approves death penalty abolition

Lebanon’s parliament has approved legislation replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment and lengthy hard-labour sentences, marking a landmark step toward abolishing capital punishment in the country.

The 128-member parliament passed the bill by a majority on Tuesday (August 11) after incorporating several amendments. Members of a Hezbollah-backed parliamentary bloc opposed the move.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar, who attended the session, described the decision as a “historic step” for Lebanon.

Lebanon has effectively suspended executions for more than two decades, with no death sentence carried out since January 2004. Courts, however, have continued to impose capital punishment for serious crimes.

Prison authorities said 85 inmates were awaiting execution at the end of 2025, and the new law could allow their sentences to be replaced with alternative punishments.

Amnesty International welcomed the decision, saying it would give permanent legal protection to Lebanon’s long-standing suspension of executions and strengthen the right to life.

The implementation of the new punishment system could nevertheless prove challenging. Lebanon is facing a prolonged economic crisis, overcrowded prisons and limited correctional facilities, while lengthy hard-labour sentences have rarely been applied in recent years.

The move comes as Lebanon also considers a possible general amnesty law that could reduce sentences or lead to the release of some people convicted in violence-related cases since the end of the country’s 15-year civil war in 1990.

Families of slain soldiers and security personnel have opposed the proposal, warning that sentence reductions could undermine justice for victims.