Capital punishment was abolished in Lebanon on August 11, 2026. Lebanon was the first Arab country in the Middle East to do so. The last execution was carried out in 2004.
In February 2026, a bill to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment was approved by a parliamentary committee. The bill needed to be approved by the general assembly. In August 2026, the Lebanese Parliament abolished the death penalty.
The methods prescribed by law were hanging and firing squad, although hanging had been the predominant method throughout Lebanese history. Carrying out an execution required approval from the Minister of Justice, the Prime Minister and the President.
The statute books of Lebanon carried a long list of capital crimes, including murder, espionage, treason, terrorism, collaborating with Israeli forces and if the crime is especially heinous enough, rape, child rape, gang-robbery or gang-assault involving torture, arson against certain types of structures or sabotage of communications, transportation or industrial facilities causing death, aggravated assault involving torture, life-eligible crimes with recidivism, importing nuclear/toxic wastes, polluting rivers or waterways with harmful substances and some military offenses (e.g. desertion).
References