Current Affairs - International - Discussion

Lebanon became the first Arab country and the first nation in the Middle East to formally abolish the death penalty on August 11, 2026. The Lebanese Parliament replaced all existing death sentences with life imprisonment. The country had maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 2004, although dozens of people remained technically on death row. The abolition applies to crimes that were previously punishable by death, including murder and treason. The move provides lasting legal protection for the right to life and aligns Lebanon with international human rights trends. Lebanon’s capital is Beirut, and its official currency is the Lebanese Pound.