Bill to replace the death sentence with life imprisonment approved in committee

BEIRUT — Death penalty abolition advocates in Lebanon have reason to celebrate today, but the fight isn’t over yet.

On Monday, the parliamentary human rights committee examined a bill submitted by an MP that calls for the abolition of the death penalty and its replacement with life imprisonment under what are described as "very strict" detention conditions.

Having now been adopted by the committee, the bill is being sent to the General Assembly. Justice Minister Adel Nassar attended the meeting.

MP Michel Moussa, the committee’s chairman, said that its members "have decided to approve the abolition of the death penalty and its replacement with life imprisonment under very strict conditions." "The General Assembly will make the decision it deems appropriate," he added.

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Twenty-two years ago, three convicts were executed in Lebanon for the last time

The death penalty still exists in Lebanon, even though there have been no executions since the 1990s. The debate remains heated in the country, but the fight against the death penalty by seasoned activists is a longstanding struggle.

Nassar stated that "the Lebanese government has expressed a favorable opinion regarding the abolition of the death penalty, which has just passed an essential step in Parliament."

"We believe that from now on, Lebanon will continue to take further steps toward the effective abolition of the death penalty," he added.