Lebanon's parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment and hard labor in aggravated circumstances. With the decision, Lebanon becomes the first country in the Arab world to undertake such a change in criminal legislation.

The legal change was approved by an overwhelming majority in parliament, with Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc voting against abolishing the death penalty. Although Lebanon has not carried out executions since January 2004, courts have continued to impose death sentences over the years. For decades, the country had maintained a de facto moratorium on executions.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar called the decision a “historic step,” noting that the long-standing moratorium now translates into an institutional abolition of capital punishment. The decision marks a significant change in Lebanon’s penal system and places the country among countries that have officially abolished the death penalty from their legislation.