Lebanon Abolishes the Death Penalty
Good news
The World Coalition welcomes the adoption by the Lebanese National Assembly of the law abolishing the death penalty on 11 August 2026.
“This victory is the culmination of a nonviolent civil campaign launched in 1997 by the pioneers of the abolition in Lebanon, Ogarit Younan and Walid Slaiby.” Said the Lebanese Association for Civil Rights (LACR).
“What happened on August 11 is not just an amendment to a law or the adoption of a new one: it is a clear and firm commitment to strip the law and political authority of the power to kill. The death penalty kills, and we cannot accept being citizens of a State of gallows — we want a civilized State that protects life, addresses the root causes of crime, guarantees victims’ rights, and rehabilitates offenders. This is the heart of our struggle, one we have spent years instilling in society, and today the law makes it real” statedOgarit Younan.
“After so many years of work, mobilization, and advocacy, we can finally welcome this major step forward with pride and hope” said Lina Aya Chamoun, Head of Legal Department at AJEM (Association Justice & Mercy)
The bill was passed after 22 years of a de facto moratorium on executions during which, World Coalition members and Lebanese civil society organizations worked tirelessly to make abolition happen. It sends a message of hope in the region and worldwide, paving the way for more countries to follow.
The World Coalition congratulates civil society organizations in Lebanon and all those who have supported them over the years.
Timeline for the adoption of the bill:
- October 7, 2025: bill on the abolition of the death penalty submitted to parliament by Ogarit Younan on behalf of LACR, and sponsored by 7 MPs
- November 20, 2025: bill approved by the Council of Ministers
- February 23, 2026: bill approved by the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee
- June 2, 2026: bill approved by the Parliamentary Administration and Justice Committee
- June 30, 2026: Adel Nassar, Minister of Justice of the Lebanese Republic, addressed the opening ceremony of the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, and expressed his hope that the legislative work would be successfully concluded.
- July 9, 2026: bill approved by the joint parliamentary committees (Human Rights and Administration and Justice)
- August 11, 2026: bill approved by the General Assembly of the Lebanese Parliament
Concerns about the alternative to the death penalty and next steps
This new law replaces capital punishment with life imprisonment with hard labor. While this penalty exists in current Lebanese legislation, the National Human Rights Committee has noted that it remains incompatible with international human rights standards.
Ogarit Younan stated: “The most important thing was to preserve the first article of this law: the definitive abolition of the death penalty from all Lebanese legal texts. The law’s other articles will still need to be further developed and revised, since forced labor and life imprisonment must also be abolished and replaced with humane alternatives. I also regret the confusion created by the “amnesty law”, which clouded the debate.”
The World Coalition further calls on Lebanon to:
- Ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR
- Reaffirm its vote in favor of UNGA moratorium resolution and co-sponsor it
- Commute all death sentences
For more information:
Amnesty International Statement
Source Image: Pixnio (LCC)
