Lebanon Becomes First Middle East Nation to Abolish Death Penalty
Lebanon abolishes death penalty in first for region
Lebanon's parliament has abolished capital punishment, making it the first country in the Middle East to formally end the death penalty. The move replaces all existing death sentences with life imprisonment, according to a statement from the speaker's office reported by Reuters.
Lebanon had maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 2004, though dozens of people remained technically on death row. Crimes previously punishable by death included murder and treason. Lawmakers had submitted legislation to abolish capital punishment last year.
The European Union and human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, welcomed the decision. Amnesty's Regional Director Heba Morayef called it "a major milestone and a victory for human rights," noting the move transforms a long execution halt into lasting legal protection and aligns Lebanon with global trends toward abolition.
