Beirut, Aug 2026 : Lebanon's parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty, marking a significant change in the country's criminal justice system and drawing praise from international organisations and human rights groups.
A majority of lawmakers in the 128-member parliament backed the legislation. However, Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc opposed the measure.
The bill will now proceed to Lebanon's Cabinet before being submitted to President Joseph Aoun for final approval. If the remaining legislative steps are completed, the legislation would formally end capital punishment for all crimes in Lebanon.
European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas welcomed the parliamentary vote, describing it as an important achievement, particularly because the proposed abolition would also apply retroactively.
Kallas noted that Lebanon has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 2004, despite the death penalty remaining on the statute books. She said the parliamentary decision reflected a stronger commitment to protecting the fundamental right to life.
The European official also described the move as an important signal for the wider region, saying Lebanon's decision could serve as an example for other countries in the Middle East and beyond.
If enacted, Lebanon would become the first country in the Middle East to formally abolish the death penalty, according to Kallas.
The parliamentary vote represents a major development in Lebanon's long-running debate over capital punishment and places the country closer to a growing international movement seeking its abolition.
(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
