Lebanon: Lebanon becomes the first country in the Middle East to abolish the death penalty

The Lebanese parliament has formally abolished the death penalty, marking a historic shift in the country’s legal system. This decision was announced on Tuesday, following a legislative amendment approved after revisions. The move makes Lebanon the first nation in the Middle East to abolish capital punishment entirely. The law now prohibits courts from issuing death sentences, with capital crimes to be punished instead by life imprisonment and forced labor. The announcement was met with widespread international acclaim, including praise from the United Nations and the European Union. The abolition of the death penalty came just days after the last known execution in Lebanon, which took place on Monday. According to Amnesty International, as many as 85 individuals were still held in death cells as of January 2026. Since 2004, executions have not been carried out in the country, though death sentences continued to be issued. The new legislation effectively ends this practice, aligning Lebanon with growing global trends toward the abolition of capital punishment. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed his support for the decision, calling it a bold step forward for human rights in the region. “The Lebanon is thus the first country in the region to take this step,” he stated. Türk urged other nations in the Middle East to follow suit, emphasizing that the decision reflects a commitment to the right to life even amid ongoing conflict and suffering. He noted that the law must now be ratified by the president before it becomes fully operational. The European Union also commended the move, describing it as a “significant advancement for human rights” within Lebanon. A statement from the EU Council highlighted that the abolition of the death penalty for all crimes, including retroactive application, represents a major achievement. It praised Lebanon for setting a powerful example for other countries in the Middle East and beyond, reinforcing the global movement against capital punishment. In addition to international recognition, the decision received strong domestic backing. Justice Minister Adel Nassar described the ruling as “historic.” He pointed out that the threat of the death penalty had previously hindered the extradition of suspects from countries where executions are banned. By abolishing the death penalty, Lebanon aims to strengthen its position as a more open and cooperative state in regional and international matters. Human rights advocates have also welcomed the change. Ramzi Kaiss of Human Rights Watch called the decision a “milestone for human rights in the country,” highlighting the end of a brutal and arbitrary form of justice. He emphasized that such punishments should never have been imposed in the first place. France similarly praised the move, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stating that the vote demonstrated Lebanon’s ability to uphold democratic values and freedoms that underpin its existence. Despite these positive responses, the broader context of the Middle East remains complex. While Lebanon leads the region in this regard, neighboring states continue to enforce the death penalty. For instance, Iran executed over 2,000 people in 2025 alone, while Saudi Arabia carried out more than 350 executions. Jordan recently resumed executions after a nine-year moratorium, hanging six men accused of killing security personnel. Even Israel, which has long since suspended the death penalty, has proposed controversial legislation that would allow the punishment of Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks. As the new law moves closer to implementation, attention will turn to whether the president will swiftly sign it into effect. With the abolition of the death penalty, Lebanon joins a growing list of nations committed to ending one of the world’s most contentious forms of punishment. The decision underscores a shift in political and ethical priorities, reflecting both internal reform and external pressure from international bodies advocating for human rights.