Lebanon abolishes death penalty in Middle East first

Lebanon's parliament has abolished the death penalty, marking a historic first for the Middle East. The decision, made Tuesday, formally ends a practice that, while not resulting in executions since 2004, still saw sentences issued and individuals on death row.

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historic

The abolition applies to major crimes such as murder, terrorism, and espionage. Those convicted of the most severe offenses will now face life sentences with aggravated hard labor. Justice Minister Adel Nassar hailed the move as "historic," noting that the previous existence of capital punishment had hindered Beirut's ability to extradite suspects from countries where it is outlawed.

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everyone who contributed, for over more than two decades, to reaching this moment.

Independent lawmaker Firas Hamdan celebrated the outcome, thanking those who campaigned for over two decades. Former colonial power France praised the decision as "historic and courageous," with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot writing on X that it showed Lebanon "remains an example through its ability to uphold the democratic values and freedoms that lie at the foundation of its existence." The European Union echoed this sentiment, stating Lebanon was "setting a powerful example for other countries in the Middle East and beyond."

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remains an example through its ability to uphold the democratic values and freedoms that lie at the foundation of its existence.

Human rights groups lauded the abolition. Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, called it "a monumental step for human rights in the country, representing a clear break from a cruel and arbitrary sentence." Amnesty International welcomed the move, with regional director Heba Morayef urging Lebanese authorities to commute all death sentences, ratify international abolition treaties, and pursue broader justice system reforms.

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setting a powerful example for other countries in the Middle East and beyond.