BEIRUT — In a historic shift for the region, the Lebanese Parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty, making Lebanon the first Arab country to officially remove capital punishment from its judicial system.

The landmark decision was part of a major legislative push that also saw the passage of a sweeping general amnesty bill. Lawmakers signaled that the amnesty measures are intended to alleviate severe overcrowding within the nation’s prison facilities, granting relief to a wide range of inmates.

Notably, the legislation includes provisions allowing for the return of former South Lebanon Army (SLA) fighters who had previously fled to Israel. The inclusion of these returnees has proven politically contentious; the session was marked by a strategic boycott from Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), who opposed the proceedings.

Legal experts and human rights organizations have praised the abolition of the death penalty as a major milestone for civil liberties in the Middle East. While the political divide regarding the amnesty law remains sharp, the legislative package represents a significant transformation of Lebanon’s legal landscape.

Government officials have yet to outline the immediate timeline for the implementation of the amnesty, but the vote marks a decisive turning point for the country’s justice system.

Source: BBC