Lebanon formally abolishes death penalty in Middle East first

Lebanese lawmakers gathered for a parliamentary session in Beirut on Tuesday to formally abolish the death penalty, marking a historic shift as Lebanon becomes the first country in the Middle East to end the practice. The abolition of the death penalty was approved by the speaker of parliament's office, with the law's aim to eliminate capital punishment from the nation's legal system.

Notably, Lebanon had not executed anyone since 2004. Justice Minister Adel Nassar hailed the move as "historic," explaining that the specter of capital punishment had previously hindered Beirut's ability to obtain the extradition of suspects from countries where the death penalty is outlawed. Human Rights Watch researcher Ramzi Kaiss called the decision a "monumental step for human rights in the country," emphasizing the clear break from a cruel and arbitrary sentence that should never be imposed.

The abolition of the death penalty was part of a series of bills to be addressed during the current legislative session, including a general amnesty law that has been under debate for years.