Lebanon abolishes death penalty in landmark parliament vote
Lebanon’s parliament Tuesday abolished the death penalty, making it the first country in the Arab world to replace the sentencing with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labor. The tiny Mediterranean country has committed to an unofficial moratorium on executions since January 2004. However, dozens of death sentences since then have been issued, but later suspended … The post Lebanon…
Lebanon's parliament voted Tuesday to abolish the death penalty, marking a historic step for the country and the first such action in the Arab world. The new law replaces the death sentence with life imprisonment and hard labor. Lebanon had been officially observing a moratorium on executions since January 2004, but dozens of death sentences were still issued and later suspended or commuted.
Justice Minister Adel Nassar called the abolition a significant milestone. Rights groups have welcomed the decision, highlighting the cruelty and finality of capital punishment. However, the enforcement of aggravated hard labor remains unclear as the terms of the new punishment are not yet fully defined. Lebanon currently allows for hard labor sentences in court decisions, but they are rarely carried out due to limited resources and capacity in its overcrowded prisons.
The move comes as parliament discusses a controversial general amnesty law that could potentially reduce or release many convicted individuals, including militants and drug dealers, with some exceptions.
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