Lebanon Becomes First Arab Nation to Abolish the Death Penalty

Lawmakers approved the legislation, introduced by Independent MP Abdul Rahman Bizri, to replace the death penalty—previously involving hanging or firing squads—with life imprisonment under hard labor. While the country has not carried out an execution in 22 years, 84 people currently sit on death row; their sentences will now be commuted to life terms. Justice Minister Adel Nassar framed the move as a commitment to combating crime without resorting to lethal state violence, describing the legislation as a vital assertion of international human rights standards.

The vote triggered sharp political friction. Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc staged a walkout in protest, joined by other legislators who argued the change contradicts Islamic law and could foster leniency for those convicted of major crimes like terrorism. Proponents, however, view the bill as a necessary legal evolution. Human Rights Watch researcher Ramzi Kaiss praised the decision as a final break from a practice he termed uniquely cruel and prone to error. Amnesty International’s Heba Morayef echoed this sentiment, calling the law a landmark victory for human rights and a transformation of a long-standing, unofficial hiatus into permanent legal protection.

This legislative milestone arrives as Lebanon grapples with severe economic collapse, the aftermath of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and the ongoing impact of regional conflict. International observers, including the United Nations and the European Union, have lauded the move as a powerful example for the Middle East. At a time when several nations—including Burkina Faso and the Philippines—have moved to reintroduce or tighten capital punishment, Lebanon’s decision serves as a notable outlier in the global landscape.