The Lebanese Parliament has approved the abolition of the death penalty
The Lebanese Parliament approved a bill on Tuesday to abolish the death penalty, NDTV World reports, citing Agence France-Presse. The office of the speaker of parliament announced that the bill, aimed at eliminating this form of punishment in the country, had been approved.
According to the publication, Lebanon has become the first country in the Middle East to formally abolish the death penalty. At the same time, no executions have been carried out in the country since 2004.
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Justice Minister Adel Nassar called this decision historic. According to him, the existence of the death penalty had previously prevented Beirut from seeking the extradition of suspects from countries where this form of punishment is prohibited.
Ramzi Kays, a researcher with Human Rights Watch in Lebanon, called the decision a significant step forward for human rights in the country. The bill was considered as part of the current legislative session alongside other initiatives, including a bill on a general amnesty that has been under discussion for many years.
