Capital punishment in Lebanon

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Capital punishment was abolished [1] in Lebanon on August 11, 2026. Lebanon was the first Arab country in the Middle East to do so. [2] The last execution was carried out in 2004. [3]

Contents

History

1994–2004

In 1994, capital punishment in Lebanon became more frequent as the law became more strict in the aftermath of the 1975–1990 civil war. Fourteen people were executed from 1994 to 1998. [4]

In 2004, Lebanon completed its last executions – three men, two of whom were executed by firing squad and one by hanging. They were the first people to be executed since 1998, when Salim Al-Huss became Prime Minister and refused to sign execution orders as he was an opponent of the death penalty. [4]

Path to abolition

From 2004 to 2026, there was a 22-year-long unofficial moratorium on executions. [5] Despite this, 85 people remained on death row during this time period. [6] During this time, advocacy groups campaigned for the official abolition of the death penalty, including the Lebanese Association for Civil Rights (LACR), the National Campaign for the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Lebanon and the Association Justice and Mercy (AJEM). [6]

In February 2026, a bill to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment was approved by a parliamentary committee. The bill needed to be approved by the general assembly. [7] In August 2026, the Lebanese Parliament abolished the death penalty, replacing it with "life imprisonment with hard labor." [8] [6]

With the abolition of the death penalty in Lebanon, the country became the 114th country to abolish the death penalty and the first Arab country to do so. [2] [5]

Methodology

The statute books of Lebanon carried a long list of capital crimes, including murder, espionage, treason, terrorism, collaborating with Israeli forces and if the crime is especially heinous enough, rape, child rape, gang-robbery or gang-assault involving torture, arson against certain types of structures or sabotage of communications, transportation or industrial facilities causing death, aggravated assault involving torture, life-eligible crimes with recidivism, importing nuclear/toxic wastes, polluting rivers or waterways with harmful substances and some military offenses (e.g. desertion). [9]

The methods prescribed by law were hanging and firing squad, although hanging had been the predominant method throughout Lebanese history. Carrying out an execution required approval from the Minister of Justice, the Prime Minister and the President. [2]

References

  1. ↑ "Lebanon abolishes death penalty in landmark parliament vote". AP News. 11 August 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Lebanon abolishes the death penalty after 22 years without an execution". Oxford Law Blogs. 11 August 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Lebanon". World Coalition Against the Death Penalty . Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Death penalty resumes in Lebanon". BBC News. BBC. 17 January 2004. Archived from the original on 17 January 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  5. 1 2 Bedard, Hayley (17 August 2026). "Lebanon Parliament Abolishes Death Penalty After 22-Year-Long Unofficial Moratorium". Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "Lebanon: Abolition of death penalty a landmark victory affirming justice must be rooted in human rights". Amnesty International. 11 August 2026. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  7. ↑ "Lebanon takes another step toward abolishing the death penalty". L'Orient Today. 24 February 2026. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "مجلس النواب يلغي عقوبة الإعدام... ماذا دار بين الحاج حسن والحشيمي؟" [Parliament Abolishes the Death Penalty... What Transpired Between Hajj Hassan and Al-Hashimi?]. lebanondebate.com (in Arabic). 11 August 2026. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  9. ↑ "The Death Penalty in Lebanon". Death Penalty Worldwide. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
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