Lebanon abolishes death penalty after historic parliament vote

Lebanon abolishes death penalty after historic parliament vote Lebanon’s parliament voted to abolish the death penalty on Tuesday - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Lebanon has become the first nation in the Arab world to abolish the death penalty, after its parliament voted on Tuesday to replace the punishment with life imprisonment alongside aggravated hard labour. The tiny Mediterranean country has adhered to an unofficial moratorium on executions since January 2004. Nevertheless, courts have continued to issue dozens of death sentences over the intervening years, which were later suspended or commuted. A majority of Lebanon's 128-member parliament supported the measure, with opposition coming from the parliamentary bloc of Hezbollah. Justice Minister Adel Nassar, present during the session, hailed the decision as a "historic step" for the country. Campaigners and human rights groups advocating for a permanent end to capital punishment also celebrated the vote. Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon Researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the nation is "marking a final break from a cruel sentence that should never be imposed." "Capital punishment is unique in its cruelty and finality and is plagued with arbitrariness, prejudice, and error," he said. How aggravated hard labour will be enforced remains unclear, with several lawmakers acknowledging that the parameters of the new penalty are yet to be defined. Although hard labour is formally written into Lebanese legislation and judicial rulings, it has rarely been applied in recent times owing to a lack of state resources and severe overcrowding across the prison network. The decision arrives as parliament debates a controversial general amnesty law — the largest since the end of the 15-year civil war in 1990 — which could see prison terms reduced or certain convicted militants and drug dealers released, subject to exceptions. Relatives of Lebanese soldiers and servicemen killed or attacked by Islamist militant groups have repeatedly demonstrated against the amnesty bill, with some arguing that perpetrators should face execution rather than lighter prison sentences. Hezbollah offered no immediate comment on the vote. Lebanon's diverse religious institutions, which retain capital punishment within their respective court systems, have also yet to comment. The landmark vote also comes during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that was triggered by the US and Israel launching strikes on Iran in late February. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments