Rome, 11 Aug. (LaPresse) – The Lebanese parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment with hard labour. It is the first Arab country to take this decision. Beirut had committed to observing an unofficial moratorium on executions since January 2004. However, dozens of death sentences have been handed down since then, which were subsequently suspended or commuted. A majority of the 128 members of the Lebanese parliament voted in favour of abolishing the death penalty, with the exception of the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc. Justice Minister Adel Nassar, who was present in the chamber, described the move as a “historic step” for the country.
Lebanon: Parliament votes to abolish the death penalty; it is the first Arab country to do so
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Rome, 11 Aug. (LaPresse) – The Lebanese parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment with hard labour. It is the first Arab country to take this decision. Beirut had committed to observing an unofficial moratorium on executions since January 2004. However, dozens of death sentences have been handed down since then, which were subsequently suspended or commuted. A majority of the 128 members of the Lebanese parliament voted in favour of abolishing the death penalty, with the exception of the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc. Justice Minister Adel Nassar, who was present in the chamber, described the move as a “historic step” for the country.
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