Lebanon Abolishes Death Penalty, First in Middle East

Lebanon's parliament has officially decided to abolish the death penalty, marking a historic moment as the first Middle Eastern nation to legally eliminate capital punishment.

The parliamentary speaker's office announced the passage of the bill to abolish the death penalty. This legislative action aligns with a de facto moratorium, as no executions have been carried out in Lebanon since 2024.

Lebanese Justice Minister Adal Nasser described the decision as a "historic step." He explained that abolishing the death penalty could remove obstacles to extraditing suspects from abroad, as countries may be hesitant to return individuals to jurisdictions where they face capital punishment.

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This is a historic step.

Human Rights Watch researcher for Lebanon, Ramzi Kaiss, hailed the move as a "huge step" for the country's human rights record and a clear milestone in ending "inhumane punishments."

The abolition is expected to significantly impact Lebanon's human rights standing and its international relations, particularly concerning legal cooperation with countries that have also abolished the death penalty.

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This is a huge step for the country's human rights and a clear milestone in stopping inhumane punishments.