# Lebanese parliament passes sweeping amnesty law to ease prison overcrowding

https://mins.news/en/item/20163

- France 24, 2026-08-12 12:28 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260812-lebanese-parliament-passes-sweeping-amnesty-law-thousands-prisoners-wanted-people

> Lebanon’s parliament passed a general amnesty law on Wednesday as authorities seek to reduce overcrowding in prisons. The measure cuts sentences for inmates and applies to people held for more than 12 years without charges. It was approved one day after Lebanon abolished the death penalty. That decision made Lebanon the first country in the Middle East to take such a step.

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- [Lebanon ends death penalty and approves first general amnesty in 30 years](https://mins.news/en/video/20590) — Al Jazeera English, 2026-08-12
- [Lebanon passes long-sought amnesty law a day after repealing death penalty](https://mins.news/en/item/20309) — Al Jazeera, 2026-08-12