On Tuesday, August 12th, 2026, Lebanon’s parliament voted to abolish the death penalty, making it the first country in the Middle East to officially end capital punishment. Although Lebanon has not executed anyone since 2004, death sentences continued to be issued, with the most recent handed down just days before the vote.

Amnesty International reported that as of January 2026, at least 85 people remained on death row in Lebanon. Historically, the death penalty in Lebanon was applied for serious crimes such as murder, terrorism, and espionage.

France 24 correspondent Renée Davis provided the latest updates from Beirut on this landmark decision.

This move represents a significant change in the Middle East’s approach to criminal justice and human rights.

Sources