Kathmandu— Lebanon’s parliament passed legislation on Tuesday abolishing the death penalty, becoming the first nation in the Middle East to do so. The law replaces capital punishment with life imprisonment featuring aggravated hard labor, effectively ending a practice that, while unofficially suspended since 2004, continued to be issued by courts. A majority of the 128-member assembly supported the measure, with opposition coming solely from Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc.

Historic Vote and Legal Shift

Justice Minister Adel Nassar described the vote as a “historic step” for Lebanon. While executions have been unofficially paused since January 2004, courts continued to hand down death sentences; at the end of 2025, approximately 85 individuals were under sentence of death according to the Lebanese Ministry of Justice’s Directorate of Prisons. The new law provides lasting legal protection against execution, transforming what was a temporary pause into permanent abolition.

Regional and International Response

The move has been welcomed by international human rights organizations. Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa director, hailed the decision as “a major milestone and a victory for human rights in the country.” She added that the change transforms an existing pause on executions into lasting legal protection, aligning Lebanon with the global trend towards abolition.

Implementation Concerns Remain

Despite the legislative change, questions remain regarding the enforcement of aggravated hard labor. Some legislators have noted a lack of clarity surrounding the specifics of this new punishment. While hard labor is already written into Lebanese law and court decisions, its practical application has been limited in recent years due to the country’s financial difficulties and overcrowded prison system.

Controversial Amnesty Debate

The abolition of the death penalty comes as Lebanon's parliament also considers a broad amnesty law – potentially the largest since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. This proposed legislation could lead to reduced sentences or even release for individuals convicted of violent crimes, sparking protests from family members of victims who had hoped for executions.

The new law officially abolishes capital punishment in Lebanon, though details regarding the implementation of aggravated hard labor remain unclear as lawmakers continue debate on other legal reforms.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.