Event
Lebanon’s parliament has approved a general amnesty law, the first since 1991, which is expected to benefit thousands of convicted prisoners, detainees, and wanted individuals. The legislation, passed via a show-of-hands vote, aims to reduce prison overcrowding by exceptionally reducing certain prison terms and releasing inmates detained for over 12 years without charges. The law also reduces sentences for those facing death or life imprisonment to 17 prison years. The passage of the amnesty law follows the formal abolition of the death penalty by parliament the previous day.
2 published stories · security · source reliability 67%
New legislation reduces sentences for capital offences and mandates releases for those held without charge, marking a significant shift in governance amid demands from multiple political factions.
Background
Lebanon’s parliament has enacted a general amnesty law to address severe prison overcrowding, which authorities report at 300 percent. The legislation mandates the release of inmates detained for more than 12 years without charge and converts death and life sentences to 17 prison years. This move follows the parliament’s decision to abolish the death penalty, making Lebanon the first Middle Eastern country to formally end the practice. The amnesty addresses demands from political factions, including Hezbollah and Christian parties, regarding prisoners linked to the Syrian civil war, drug offences, and families of those who fled to Israel.
Lebanon’s parliament has enacted a general amnesty law to address severe prison overcrowding, which authorities report at 300 percent. The legislation mandates the release of inmates detained for more than 12 years without charge and converts death and life sentences to 17 prison
Fact cards
Key entities: Lebanon, parliament, Imad al-Hout, Walid Baarini, Bashar al-Assad, Hezbollah, Amal, National Human Rights Commission.
What is the primary purpose of the new amnesty law? To reduce severe prison overcrowding, which authorities report at 300 percent. How does the law treat death and life sentences? It converts them to 17 prison years, which equates to approximately 12 years and nine months of actu
Al Jazeera Global News | https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/12/lebanon-passes-long-sought-amnesty-law-a-day-after-death-penalty-repeal | published 2026-08-12T14:26:45.000Z | primary source | France 24 International | https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260812-lebanese-pa
2004–2026: Lebanon observes an unofficial moratorium on executions for over two decades. 2025 (March): National Human Rights Commission reports at least 6,268 inmates and a 300 percent overcrowding rate. 2025 (December): Global data indicates close to three-quarters of countries
Timeline
Lebanon observes an unofficial moratorium on executions for over two decades.
National Human Rights Commission reports at least 6,268 inmates and a 300 percent overcrowding rate.
Global data indicates close to three-quarters of countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
Parliament votes to abolish the death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment accompanied by aggravated hard labour.
Parliament passes the general amnesty law, the first of its kind since 1991.
FAQ
To reduce severe prison overcrowding, which authorities report at 300 percent.
It converts them to 17 prison years, which equates to approximately 12 years and nine months of actual imprisonment based on Lebanon’s calculation of a prison year as nine months.
Inmates detained for more than 12 years without charge are mandated for release.
Lebanon becomes the first Middle Eastern country to formally abolish the death penalty.
The law addresses demands from Hezbollah and Amal regarding drug offences and car theft, and from Christian parties regarding families of those who fled to Israel after 2000.