Lebanon passes long-sought amnesty law, a day after death penalty repeal
Summary
Lebanon’s parliament approved a general amnesty law that will reduce prison sentences and free some prisoners. This law comes one day after the country formally ended the death penalty. It aims to ease overcrowding in prisons and apply to many inmates, including those held without trial for a long time.Key Facts
- Lebanon’s parliament passed a general amnesty law by a show-of-hands vote.
- The law reduces sentences, including changing death and life sentences to 17 prison years (about 12 years and nine months actual time).
- It allows the release of inmates held over 12 prison years without charges.
- Lebanon abolished the death penalty one day before passing this law.
- The law aims to reduce severe prison overcrowding, estimated at 300 percent.
- The amnesty law responds to demands from different political groups and regions, including prisoners linked to the Syrian civil war and drug-related offenses.
- Some families of slain Lebanese soldiers oppose the law, fearing it could be too lenient on criminals.
- The last similar amnesty law in Lebanon was passed after the civil war ended in 1991.
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