Lebanon Parliament Passes First General Amnesty Law in 35 Years

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Lebanon’s parliament on Wednesday passed a long-awaited general amnesty law expected to benefit thousands of prisoners and wanted people, marking the country’s first legislation of its kind since 1991.

The measure, which has been demanded by several political factions and debated for years, is intended in part to ease severe overcrowding in Lebanon’s prisons, where thousands of inmates have spent years awaiting trial.

The office of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced the approval of a draft law “aimed at granting a general amnesty and exceptionally reducing the terms of certain sentences.”

Authorities did not immediately provide an estimate of the number of people who would benefit from the legislation.

Lawmakers said the law includes significant reductions for some serious sentences. Imad al-Hout, a parliamentarian who supported the bill, said sentences for people facing death or life imprisonment would be reduced to 17 years.

Under Lebanon’s prison system, where one prison year is calculated as nine months, 17 years translates into 12 years and nine months of actual imprisonment.

The legislation also provides for the release of inmates who have been held for more than 12 prison years without charges while their trials remain ongoing.

Severe prison overcrowding

The amnesty comes as Lebanon’s prison system faces a severe overcrowding crisis.

The National Human Rights Commission said in its 2025 report that Lebanon’s prisons were operating at around 300 percent of capacity, with prison authorities reporting at least 6,268 inmates by the end of March.

The issue of general amnesty gained renewed political attention following the fall of longtime Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

A significant number of Islamist prisoners in Lebanon were detained over cases linked to the Syrian civil war. Many come from Tripoli, a predominantly Sunni city in northern Lebanon, and face accusations including attacks on the Lebanese army, participation in armed clashes and planning bomb attacks.

Political pressure across communities

The amnesty issue has also been championed by other political forces seeking relief for members of their respective communities.

Iran-backed Hezbollah has pushed for amnesty for people facing criminal charges in areas where it holds significant influence.

Thousands of families in the eastern regions of Baalbek and Hermel, strongholds of Hezbollah and its ally Amal, have for years demanded amnesty for offenses including drug-related crimes and car theft. Illicit cannabis cultivation is widespread in parts of the region.

Christian political parties, meanwhile, have sought provisions covering families of Lebanese who joined an Israeli-backed proxy force and fled to Israel following Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.

Supporters of the measure have argued that those families continue to face the possibility of reprisals, particularly from Hezbollah and its supporters.

First major amnesty since civil war

Lebanon’s previous general amnesty law was enacted after the country’s 1975–1990 civil war. That legislation allowed former wartime leaders and militia commanders to enter political life without facing prosecution for crimes committed during the conflict.

Wednesday’s legislation therefore represents a significant development in Lebanon’s efforts to address its longstanding prison crisis and politically sensitive criminal cases, while also reflecting competing demands from the country’s major political and sectarian blocs.

Death Penalty Abolished Ahead of Amnesty Law

Lebanon’s parliament also voted to abolish the death penalty, making the country the first in the Middle East to formally end capital punishment. The decision came as lawmakers considered a series of long-debated legislative measures, including the general amnesty law.

Lebanon had not carried out an execution since 2004, although courts continued to issue death sentences. Amnesty International said at least 85 people remained on death row as of January.

Capital punishment had typically been imposed for serious offenses including murder, terrorism and espionage. Under the new legislation, the most serious crimes will instead carry life imprisonment with hard labor, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar, who attended the parliamentary session, described the abolition as “historic,” noting that the continued existence of the death penalty had previously complicated Lebanon’s efforts to secure the extradition of suspects from countries that have abolished capital punishment.

The decision was welcomed by the United Nations, the European Union and France. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged other Middle Eastern countries that retain capital punishment to follow Lebanon’s example, describing the move as a “powerful and principled commitment to the right to life” amid the country’s ongoing suffering from conflict and instability.

Human rights organizations also welcomed the move after years of campaigning. Human Rights Watch described the abolition as a “monumental step for human rights,” while Amnesty International called on Lebanese authorities to ensure that all existing death sentences are commuted and to ratify the key international treaty on the abolition of capital punishment.

Lebanon has repeatedly supported international efforts toward a moratorium on the death penalty, including voting in favor of a 2024 United Nations resolution on the issue.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jean Arnault said the abolition strengthened Lebanon’s adherence to international human rights standards and the principle of justice with human dignity.

The abolition of capital punishment and the passage of the general amnesty law together mark significant changes to Lebanon’s criminal justice system, following years of political debate and pressure from human rights groups.