Polity & Governance
Lebanon abolishes death penalty after 15-year moratorium, joins global trend
What happened
Lebanon has officially abolished the death penalty, ending a 15-year moratorium on executions. The move aligns the country with a growing global trend toward abolition, though several nations still retain capital punishment for serious crimes.
Key facts
Lebanon had not carried out an execution since 2004, despite retaining the death penalty in its legal code.
The decision to abolish the death penalty was formalized in 2026, marking the end of a 15-year moratorium.
As of 2026, 55 countries retain the death penalty for crimes including murder, terrorism, and drug trafficking.
The United Nations has repeatedly called for a global moratorium on executions.
Lebanon joins 10 other countries that have abolished the death penalty in the past decade, including Malaysia and Sierra Leone.
Context
The death penalty has been a contentious issue in Lebanon, with no executions carried out since 2004 despite legal provisions allowing it. Lebanon is part of a broader regional and international movement toward reducing or eliminating capital punishment. The abolition follows years of advocacy by human rights groups and legal reforms in the country. Globally, over 140 countries have either abolished the death penalty in law or practice as of 2026.