Lebanon formally abolishes death penalty in Middle East first
The abolition came as part of a series of bills to be discussed in the current legislative session, including a general amnesty law that has been debated for years.
In a historic move, Lebanon's parliament abolished the death penalty on Tuesday, marking the country as the first in the Middle East to officially end the practice. The decision followed approval of a draft law by the speaker of parliament's office, with the last execution carried out in 2004. Justice Minister Adel Nassar hailed the abolition as "historic," explaining that capital punishment had previously hindered Lebanon's ability to extradite suspects from countries where such punishment has been outlawed.
Human Rights Watch researcher Ramzi Kaiss described the move as a "monumental step for human rights," signaling a significant shift away from a cruel and arbitrary sentence. The abolition is part of a series of legislative bills being debated during the current session, including a general amnesty law that has been under discussion for years.
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