Source: Amnesty International –
Responding to the Lebanese parliament’s approval of a law that abolishes the death penalty for all crimes, Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at, said:
“Lebanon’s decision to abolish the death penalty marks a major milestone and a victory for human rights in the country. Justice must be rooted in human rights, not in an irreversible and cruel punishment. After more than two decades without executions, today’s step transforms a precarious hiatus in executions into lasting legal protection upholding the right to life and bringing Lebanon in line with the global trend towards abolition.
Justice must be rooted in human rights, not in an irreversible and cruel punishment.
Heba Morayef, Amnesty International.
“The passing of this law is testament to the decades of tireless advocacy by Lebanese human rights defenders and organizations, as well as the leadership of key officials who recognized the death penalty as a cruel and inhuman punishment, often imposed after unfair proceedings and the burden of which frequently falls on those at most disadvantage.
“To turn this law from paper to practice, Lebanese authorities must now ensure that all death sentences are commuted and ratify the key international treaty on abolition, while advancing broader reforms to strengthen a justice system based on dignity, fairness and respect for human rights. Authorities must accompany this law with broader legislative reform, including to ensure that any criminal justice punishments are consistent with human rights principles.”