# Lebanon becomes first Middle East country to end death penalty

https://mins.news/en/item/20366

- France 24, 2026-08-12 15:24 UTC
- Society
- Original: https://www.france24.com/en/lebanon-becomes-first-middle-east-country-to-end-death-penalty

> Lebanon’s parliament voted on Tuesday to abolish capital punishment, making it the first country in the Middle East to take that step. The country has not carried out an execution since 2004, although courts have continued to issue death sentences, including one as recently as Monday. Amnesty International says at least 85 people remained on death row in January. In Lebanon, the penalty has generally been reserved for grave offences such as murder, terrorism and espionage.

## Related coverage

- [Lebanon becomes first Middle East country to abolish death penalty](https://mins.news/en/video/20380) — France 24 English, 2026-08-12
- [Lebanon parliament votes to abolish death penalty](https://mins.news/en/item/19286) — BBC News, 2026-08-11
- [Lebanon parliament votes to end death penalty, first in Middle East to do so](https://mins.news/en/item/19287) — Al Jazeera, 2026-08-11