Lebanon abolishes death penalty in Middle East first

Lebanon's parliament on Tuesday abolished the death penalty, making the country the first in the Middle East to formally end the practice.

Lebanon had not carried out an execution since 2004, but sentences were still being issued, the latest being on Monday, and Amnesty International said at least 85 people were still on death row by January.

Capital punishment typically applied to major crimes like murder, terrorism and espionage among others.

But the most severe crimes will now be given life sentences with aggravated hard labour, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar, who was at the parliament, called the abolition "historic," and said the spectre of capital punishment had previously prevented Beirut from obtaining the extradition of suspects from countries where it has been outlawed.

Independent lawmaker Firas Hamdan celebrated the move in a post on X, thanking "everyone who contributed, for over more than two decades, to reaching this moment."

Former colonial power France hailed the move as a "historic and courageous" decision.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X that the vote 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 said Lebanon was "setting a powerful example for other countries in the Middle East and beyond."

The passing of the law follows years of campaigning by activists and rights groups.

Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, told reporters the move was "a monumental step for human rights in the country, representing a clear break from a cruel and arbitrary sentence that should never be imposed."

Amnesty International also welcomed the move.

"To turn this law from paper to practice, Lebanese authorities must now ensure that all death sentences are commuted and ratify the key international treaty on abolition, while advancing broader reforms to strengthen a justice system based on dignity, fairness and respect for human rights," said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Agence France-Presse