Lebanon approves bill abolishing death penalty

Lebanon’s unicameral parliament has approved a bill abolishing the death penalty after amendments were made to the legislation, the National News Agency (NNA) reports.

It said the bill also addresses how the harshest punishment will apply to crimes committed before the law takes effect.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri made it clear that the agreed wording was developed during consultations with MP George Adwan and is intended to resolve the issue of applying the harsher penalty to crimes committed before the new law was adopted.

The death penalty has formally remained part of Lebanon’s legislation for many years, but its use has effectively been suspended.

The country’s last execution was carried out in 2004.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov