Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Lebanon, First Middle East Nation, Officially Abolishes Death Penalty
Lebanon is a country in the Middle East.
The people who make the laws there, called parliament, decided to stop using the death penalty.
The death penalty is when the government kills a person as punishment for a very serious crime.
Lebanon is now the first country in the Middle East to officially say no more executions.
Lebanon had already stopped executing people back in 2004, but now it is protected by law.
People who were waiting for that punishment will get life in prison instead, which means staying in jail for the rest of their lives.
Lebanon's justice minister called the decision 'historic.'
Human rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International were very happy about the new law.
The European Union said Lebanon is setting a powerful example for other countries.
Some nearby countries, like Iran and Saudi Arabia, still carry out many executions.
Lebanon's parliament approved a draft law abolishing the death penalty, making it the first Middle East (or West Asian) nation to formally end capital punishment.
The abolition came after a de facto moratorium — Lebanon has carried out no executions since 2004, though dozens remained technically on death row for crimes such as murder and treason.
All existing death sentences were replaced with life imprisonment, the speaker's office said; the parliamentary statement did not include a vote count.
Justice Minister Adel Nassar called the move 'historic,' saying capital punishment had previously prevented Beirut from obtaining the extradition of suspects from countries where the practice is outlawed.
Human Rights Watch called the decision 'a monumental step for human rights,' and Amnesty International and the European Union also welcomed it; Lebanon joins 113 countries that have fully abolished capital punishment.
The law was passed as part of a series of bills in the current legislative session, including a general amnesty law debated for years and partly aimed at relieving prison overcrowding.
According to Amnesty International's Death Sentences and Executions 2025 report, Iran carried out more than 2,159 executions (its highest annual total since 1981), with Saudi Arabia at 356, Yemen at 51 and the UAE at three.
- Who
- Lebanon's parliament, Justice Minister Adel Nassar, and human rights groups including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the European Union
- What
- Parliament formally abolished the death penalty and replaced all existing death sentences with life imprisonment, making Lebanon the first Middle East nation to end capital punishment
- When
- Tuesday, August 11, during the current legislative session
- Where
- Beirut, Lebanon
- Why
- The abolition, adopted alongside a long-debated general amnesty law, is called a historic human rights step and removes a barrier to obtaining the extradition of suspects from countries where capital punishment is outlawed
- Country
- Lebanon
- Decision
- Parliament approved a draft law abolishing the death penalty; all existing death sentences replaced with life imprisonment
- Regional significance
- First Middle East nation (described as West Asia in one report) to formally abolish capital punishment
- Last execution
- 2004; executions punishable by death included murder and treason
- Justice Minister
- Adel Nassar, who called the abolition 'historic'
- Reactions
- Human Rights Watch: 'a monumental step for human rights'; Amnesty International: 'a major milestone and a victory for human rights'; the EU: Lebanon sets 'a powerful example'
- Amnesty International 2025 execution data
- Iran 2,159+; Saudi Arabia 356; Yemen 51; UAE 3
- Global context
- Lebanon joins 113 countries that fully abolished capital punishment; India retains the penalty under the 'Rarest of Rare' doctrine with 8 executions since 2000
Sources
Lebanon ends death penalty, becomes first in Middle East; where does region stand?
Lebanon abolishes death penalty in first for region
Lebanon becomes first Arab country to abolish death penalty
Lebanon Becomes 1st Middle East Nation To Formally Abolish Death Penalty
