International, Defence and Summits · 12 August 2026
Lebanon Abolishes Death Penalty, Becomes First West Asian Country to End Capital Punishment
Exam-focused facts from the 12 August 2026 current affairs briefing.
Key facts
- Lebanon's parliament approved a draft law abolishing the death penalty on August 11, 2026.
- Lebanon became the first country in West Asia to formally end capital punishment.
- Lebanon had not carried out an execution since 2004.
- Justice Minister Adel Nassar called the abolition 'historic'.
- Human Rights Watch researcher Ramzi Kaiss described the move as 'a monumental step for human rights'.
- The abolition was part of a series of bills discussed in the current legislative session, including a general amnesty law.