Lebanon’s parliament voted on Tuesday to abolish the death penalty, a move that would make the nation the first in the Middle East to formally end capital punishment. The measure passed with a majority of the 128-seat parliament, though Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc stood in opposition to the change.
While the legislation must still clear the cabinet and receive a signature from President Joseph Aoun, the government has already signaled its support. Although Lebanon has not executed a prisoner since 2004, courts have continued to issue death sentences, and approximately 78 individuals currently sit on death row.
The new law intends to replace these sentences with life imprisonment and hard labor, though the practical enforcement of such labor remains unclear given the country's ongoing financial crisis and overcrowded prison system. Previously, the death penalty was reserved for the most severe crimes, including terrorism, treason, espionage, and aggravated murder.
The vote marks a shift in regional policy, standing in stark contrast to other nations in the Middle East that have recently maintained or expanded their use of capital punishment to address national security threats and terrorism.
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