Lebanon Abolishes Death Penalty; Parliament Approves Bill by Majority - Sarmad

• Parliament debates a general amnesty bill that could lead to reduced sentences or the release of some convicts

The Lebanese Parliament approved, on Tuesday, a law abolishing the death penalty after amendments were made to it, while the two parliamentary blocs of Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement objected to the decision, with their MPs walking out of the session.

The new law stipulates replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment for crimes committed after the law’s entry into force, and with hard labor for life for prior crimes.

A majority of the 128 members of parliament voted in favor of abolishing the penalty.

Lebanese Justice Minister Adnan Nasser described the abolition of the death penalty as a “historic step,” adding that it “does not mean leniency toward criminals.”

Lebanon has not carried out executions since January 2004, although courts continued to issue dozens of death sentences during this period, which were later suspended or commuted.

The abolition of the death penalty coincides with the parliament’s debate on a controversial general amnesty bill that could lead to reduced sentences or the release of some convicts.