Lebanon abolishes death penalty in Middle East first

Lebanon's parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty, marking the country as the first in the Middle East to do so. This legislation, passed on August 11, replaces capital punishment with life sentences for severe crimes such as murder, terrorism, and espionage. Lebanon had not carried out an execution since 2004, though sentences were still being issued, with at least 85 individuals on death row as of January 2023.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar called the decision historic, noting it had previously impeded the country's ability to extradite suspects from countries that have outlawed capital punishment. The United Nations and European Union praised Lebanon's move, with the UN's Volker Turk urging neighboring countries maintaining the death penalty to follow Lebanon's example.

Amnesty International welcomed the abolition, stating it was a monumental step for human rights in the country. The law now requires Lebanese authorities to commute all death sentences and ratify an international treaty on abolition while advancing broader reforms to strengthen the justice system based on dignity and human rights.