Lebanon becomes first Arab nation to abolish death penalty

In a landmark change to Lebanon’s penal system, the country’s parliament on Tuesday approved legislation abolishing the death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour, the state-run National News Agency reported.The vote makes Lebanon the first Arab country to formally abolish the death penalty.Justice Minister Adel Nassar, who attended the parliamentary session, described the vote as a “historic step” for Lebanon.The measure was approved by a majority of the 128-member parliament, though Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc opposed it, according to government sources. The draft legislation, submitted to parliament in October 2025, was backed by seven lawmakers from different political blocs.Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri opens the parliamentary session to discuss the abolition of the death penalty in Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday. Photo: EPAThe proposal, put forward by MP Abdul Rahman al-Bizri, was amended before it was approved. Under the amended law, crimes committed before the legislation takes effect will be punished by life imprisonment, while offences committed after it takes effect will carry aggravated life imprisonment, according to NNA.