Lebanon formally abolishes death penalty in Mideast first

Lebanon's parliament abolished the death penalty on Tuesday, making the country the first in the Middle East to formally end the practice.

The speaker of parliament's office announced that the draft law was approved. Lebanon had not carried out an execution since 2004.

Why is Lebanon's death penalty abolition significant?

Lebanon's move makes it the first country in the Middle East to formally end capital punishment through legislation, rather than through an unofficial pause.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar called the abolition historic. He said the threat of capital punishment had previously blocked Beirut from securing the extradition of suspects from countries where the death penalty is outlawed.

How have human rights groups reacted to the abolition?

Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, told AFP the move was a monumental step for human rights in the country.

He described it as a clear break from a cruel and arbitrary sentence that should never be imposed. His comments reflect wider praise from rights organizations following the vote.

What other legislation is Lebanon's parliament considering?

The abolition formed part of a series of bills scheduled for discussion in the current legislative session. Among them is a general amnesty law that has been debated in parliament for years without resolution.

Lawmakers are expected to continue deliberating this and related legislation in upcoming sessions.