Lebanon abolishes death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment

Lebanon has officially abolished the death penalty, becoming the first country in the Middle East to do so. On Tuesday, a majority of the 128-member parliament voted to replace capital punishment with life imprisonment accompanied by aggravated hard labor. This marks a significant shift in Lebanon's legal landscape, where an unofficial moratorium on executions has been in place since January 2004, although courts continued to issue death sentences.

The decision comes at a time when many countries around the world are moving away from capital punishment. According to Amnesty International, by the end of 2025, nearly 75% of nations had either abolished the death penalty in law or practice. This trend reflects a growing global consensus against the use of capital punishment, even though some countries still retain it for specific crimes, particularly those involving military law or exceptional circumstances.

As of late 2025, Lebanon had 85 individuals facing death sentences, according to the Ministry of Justice’s Directorate of Prisons. In contrast, Amnesty International reported a dramatic rise in executions globally, with 2,707 executions recorded in 2025, a 78% increase from 2024. The surge was largely attributed to a significant increase in executions in Iran, which saw a jump from 972 to over 2,159.

Lebanon's move to abolish the death penalty could influence other countries in the region, where capital punishment remains common. This decision not only aligns Lebanon with a more progressive legal framework but also reflects a broader shift towards human rights considerations in the justice system. As countries reevaluate their stance on capital punishment, Lebanon's example may inspire further reforms in the Middle East and beyond.