At the closing ceremony of the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris, on July 2, 2026, the tribute by Raphaël Chenuil-Hazan, Director General of the French association Ensemble contre la peine de mort (ECPM), to Ogarit Younan. (Credit: Christophe Meiris/ECPM)
Fresh from Paris, where the French organization Ensemble contre la peine de mort (Together against the death penalty, ECPM) honored her at the World Congress Against the Death Penalty, Ogarit Younan remains characteristically composed. For nearly three decades, the nonviolent activist, sociologist and academic has campaigned tirelessly to end capital punishment in Lebanon. Today, that long struggle appears closer than ever to success. On June 30, through Justice Minister Adel Nassar, Lebanon announced its decision to abolish the death penalty, bringing a 22-year moratorium one step closer to becoming permanent law.For ECPM's executive director, Raphael Chenuil-Hazan: "Ogarit Younan is the passionate force bringing abolition to Parliament." Yet, Younan is humble in her triumph. She credits her fight to her late husband,...
Fresh from Paris, where the French organization Ensemble contre la peine de mort (Together against the death penalty, ECPM) honored her at the World Congress Against the Death Penalty, Ogarit Younan remains characteristically composed. For nearly three decades, the nonviolent activist, sociologist and academic has campaigned tirelessly to end capital punishment in Lebanon. Today, that long struggle appears closer than ever to success. On June 30, through Justice Minister Adel Nassar, Lebanon announced its decision to abolish the death penalty, bringing a 22-year moratorium one step closer to becoming permanent law.For ECPM's executive director, Raphael Chenuil-Hazan: "Ogarit Younan is the passionate force bringing abolition to Parliament." Yet, Younan is humble in her triumph. She credits her fight to her late husband,...
