Lebanon passes long-awaited amnesty law, a day after abolishing death penalty

Lebanon's parliament has passed a long-sought amnesty law that will reduce prison terms for certain inmates, coming just a day after lawmakers voted to repeal the death penalty in the country.

According to the parliament speaker, the new legislation will "exceptionally" allow for the reduction of certain prison sentences. Further details on which categories of prisoners will be covered by the amnesty, and how broadly it will be applied, have not yet been specified.

The amnesty law has long been sought in Lebanon, and its passage alongside the death penalty repeal the previous day points to broader shifts in the country's judicial system and criminal policy.

Context

Lebanon's political system has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including economic crisis and an overburdened prison system. The question of amnesty has been a subject of debate in the country for a long time, touching on both human rights considerations and the efficiency of the justice system.

Both decisions — the abolition of the death penalty and the passage of the amnesty law — were made by parliament within a short span of time, suggesting a degree of political consensus on these issues.