# Lebanon Scraps Death Penalty, Enacts Divisive Amnesty Law 2026-08-12T01:47:01+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Beirut: Lebanon’s parliament passed a controversial general amnesty law on Wednesday, a day after majority legislators voted to formally abolish the death penalty. The law replaces death sentences with long prison terms, reduces life sentences, and frees some convicted militants and drug dealers. It excludes rape, trafficking, corruption, terror funding, and premeditated murder, but reduces sentences for killing Lebanese troops. Critics say the law is skewed to benefit Sunni Islamist prisoners, exposing sectarian tensions. It is the first such amnesty since 1991, when combatants were absolved after the 15-year civil war. ## Coverage - ndtv.com - siasat.com Tags: abolition, death penalty, human rights, Lebanon, Middle East, Parliament Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/lebanon-becomes-first-middle-east-nation-to-abolish-death-penalty/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/lebanon-becomes-first-middle-east-nation-to-abolish-death-penalty/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.