Lebanon becomes first Arab nation to abolish death penalty

Lebanon’s parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty, becoming the first country in the Middle East and the Arab world to annul capital punishment.

Lawmakers in the Mediterranean country overwhelmingly supported the decision on Tuesday, replacing the sentencing with life imprisonment plus aggravated hard labour.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar commended the “historic step.” The majority of the 128-member legislature voted in favour, except the parliamentary bloc of Hezbollah.

​UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk has hailed the abolishment, urging other states in the region to also end the “inhumane practice” of capital punishment.

Turk said the action was a “powerful and principled” commitment to the right to life, and called for the legislation to be sent for presidential approval so it can enter into force immediately.

The European Union similarly praised Lebanon in a statement, saying the “landmark legislation” marks a significant step forward for human rights in the country.

The EU said Lebanon is setting a “powerful example for other countries in the Middle East and beyond,” reinforcing the growing international support for ending the death penalty worldwide.

An unofficial moratorium on executions has been observed in Lebanon since January 2004, but dozens of death sentences issued have either been suspended or commuted.