Lebanon on Tuesday became the first country in the Middle East to formally abolish the death penalty, a move that came as part of a series of bills before parliament in the current legislative session.
The abolition was included alongside a general amnesty law that has been debated for years, according to reports. Lebanon had not carried out an execution since 2004, though the formal step now ends the penalty in law.
The decision marks a historic shift for the region, where no other country has yet taken such a legislative step. The general amnesty law, which has been a long-standing topic of discussion, is also expected to be considered in the same session.
Lebanon's move follows years of legal and political debate, with human rights groups having long called for an end to capital punishment. The formal abolition makes Lebanon the first Middle Eastern state to remove the death penalty from its legal system.