Lebanon’s parliament voted to abolish the death penalty on Tuesday, becoming the first Arab country to do so, replacing it with life imprisonment with hard labor. The move ends a de facto moratorium and marks a shift in the region’s approach to capital punishment.
Lebanon’s parliament passed legislation to abolish the death penalty on Tuesday, making it the first Arab country to do so. The law, which replaces capital punishment with life imprisonment with hard labor, was approved by a majority of the 128-member legislature, though Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc opposed the measure. The decision follows decades of advocacy by human rights groups and legal reformers, who argue that the death penalty is inherently flawed and incompatible with modern justice standards.
A Historic Vote Amid Political Tensions
The vote came after years of pressure from civil society and international human rights organizations. Oragit Younan, co-founder of the Lebanese Association for Civil Rights, emphasized the moral imperative of the decision, stating, We cannot solve a crime with a crime or end violence with violence.
The legislation was spearheaded by lawmaker Abdul Rahman Bizri and backed by lawmakers across political lines, though Hezbollah’s opposition highlighted ongoing divisions over the balance between justice and security.
Lebanon had not carried out an execution since January 2004, when three men convicted of murder were executed. However, courts continued to issue death sentences, with at least 84 individuals on death row. The new law ensures that future crimes will be punished with life imprisonment with hard labor, while existing death sentences will be reduced to the next applicable penalty: life imprisonment with hard labor. The move aligns Lebanon with global trends toward abolition, though enforcement of hard labor remains uncertain due to the country’s overcrowded prisons and financial crisis.
The Road to Abolition: Decades of Advocacy
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International praised the vote as a major milestone
for human rights. Ramzi Kaiss of Human Rights Watch noted that Lebanon’s decision marks a final break from a cruel sentence that should never be imposed.
The campaign to abolish the death penalty in Lebanon dates back years, with activists highlighting its arbitrary application and risks of wrongful convictions. Heba Morayef of Amnesty International called the law a victory for human rights in the country,
emphasizing its role in ending a practice that is often imposed after unfair proceedings and the burden of which frequently falls on those at most disadvantage.
Previous attempts to end capital punishment failed, including legislation in 2004 and a proposal from the justice ministry in 2008. The draft law was introduced in October 2025 by seven parliamentarians, including independent Paula Yaacoubian and Elias Hankach of the Kataeb party. Critics, including Hezbollah, argued that the move could conflict with a separate amnesty bill under debate, which aims to reduce prison overcrowding. However, the parliament proceeded with the death penalty abolition, citing the need to align with international standards.
Challenges and Uncertainties Ahead
The implementation of the new law faces practical hurdles. Legal Agenda, a Lebanese rights group, noted that hard labor has rarely been implemented in recent years due to resource constraints. The country’s financial crisis and underfunded prison system raise questions about how the punishment will be carried out. Additionally, the law does not yet set out in detail how the new sentence would be enforced.
The decision also comes amid regional tensions. While Lebanon moves toward abolition, neighboring countries like Jordan and Israel have expanded the use of capital punishment. In June, Jordan executed six men in its first executions since 2017, and Israel’s parliament passed a law in May allowing the death penalty for Hamas-led attacks. These developments underscore the diverging trajectories of human rights policies in the Middle East.
For now, Lebanon’s parliament has cemented its position as a regional leader in criminal justice reform. As Younan stated, We can be a model for others.
The next steps will depend on how effectively the government enforces the new law and whether other Arab nations follow suit. For now, the vote represents a significant step toward a justice system that prioritizes dignity over retribution.
