Lebanon
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · In 1994, capital punishment was reintroduced as an...
- News items in the archive
- 224
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Lebanon is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 224 news items on Lebanon, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
AUGUST 11, 2026LebanonDEATH PENALTYLebanon becomes first Middle Eastern country to abolish the death penalty
FEBRUARY 24, 2026LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE APPROVES DRAFT TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Lebanon’s human rights committee has approved a draft to abolish the death penalty.
- FEBRUARY 15, 2026LebanonDEATH PENALTY
AMB. MARCELLI, IMPORTANT TO ARRIVE AT LAW AGAINST DEATH PENALTY IN LEBANON
Italy's ambassador to Lebanon, Fabrizio Marcelli, met with the chairman of the parliamentary committee on human rights, Michel Moussa, who is working on the bill to abolish the death penalty.
- JANUARY 21, 2026LebanonDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON REVIEWS DEATH PENALTY FOR 84 PRISONERS
Lebanon is facing a critical debate over the death penalty, as 84 prisoners remain under sentences frozen for decades.
JULY 29, 2025LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER KILLING OF IRISH SOLDIER SEÁN ROONEY
A man has been sentenced to death in Lebanon over the killing of an Irish soldier on a UN peacekeeping mission, BBC News reported on July 29, 2025.
DECEMBER 19, 2022LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR KILLER OF BRITISH WOMAN
A Lebanese court has upheld the death sentence for an Uber driver convicted of killing a British woman who worked for the U.K. Embassy in Beirut five years ago, the embassy said on December 16, 2022.
FEBRUARY 23, 2021LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: MILITARY COURT CHARGES 35 TRIPOLI PROTESTERS WITH TERRORISM
The Lebanese Military Court on 22 February 2021 charged 35 protesters from the northern city of Tripoli with terrorism and theft, which carries a maximum penalty of death, attorney Ayman Raad said in a statement.
DECEMBER 20, 2020LebanonDEATH PENALTYUN: FOR THE FIRST TIME LEBANON VOTED FOR A RESOLUTION AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
According to Lebanon’s UN representative Amal Mudallali, Lebanon for the first time in history has voted against the death penalty in a United Nations session.
FEBRUARY 21, 2020LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: DEATH SENTENCE OF RAPIST, MURDERER OVERTURNED
A judge in Lebanon’s highest court on 20 February 2020 overturned the death sentence of Tarek Houshieh, who was convicted of raping and murdering British embassy employee Rebecca Dykes in December 2017.
- JANUARY 1, 2020LebanonDEATH PENALTY
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
NOVEMBER 5, 2019LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: UBER DRIVER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF UK WOMAN
A Lebanese court on 1st November 2019 sentenced an Uber driver to death for the murder of a British embassy worker in Beirut nearly two years ago, the country’s National News Agency reported.
NOVEMBER 4, 2019LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: EIGHT PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOUBLE ATTACK IN 2013 ARE SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Justice Council of Lebanon, the highest court in the country, sentenced to death eight people responsible for the double attack on the al Takwa and al Salam mosquesin the Lebanese city of Tripoli in 2013, which resulted in 47 civilians killed and 500
- JANUARY 1, 2019LebanonDEATH PENALTY
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
- AUGUST 24, 2018LebanonDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON: MAN WHO KILLED LOTTERY CARD SALESMEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Lebanese man convicted of killing a lottery card salesman in 2012 was sentenced to death, the state-run National News Agency reported.
JANUARY 24, 2018LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: MILITARY TRIBUNAL ISSUES DEATH PENALTY OVER SOLDIERS DEATHS
The Military Tribunal issued the death penalty for two men found guilty of involvement in the beheading of two Lebanese soldiers.
- JANUARY 1, 2018LebanonDEATH PENALTY
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
OCTOBER 21, 2017LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: BASHIR GEMAYEL ASSASSINS GET DEATH SENTENCE IN ABSENTIA FOR 1982 ASSASSINATION
Lebanon's top court sentenced to death at least one Syrian nationalist for the 1982 assassination of President-elect Bashir Gemayel.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2017LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: MILITARY TRIBUNAL SENTENCES TAKFIRI PREACHER TO DEATH FOR ATTACKS ON ARMY
Lebanon's Military Tribunal sentenced an extremist preacher to death for his role in fueling sectarian violence in the Arab country and organizing attacks against members of the army.
- JUNE 12, 2017LebanonDEATH PENALTY
HRW WARNS LEBANON AGAINST BRINGING BACK DEATH PENALTY
Human Rights Watch has urged Lebanon to respect its moratorium on the death penalty after calls for its reinstatement following the murder of a young student that shocked the country.
- JANUARY 1, 2017LebanonDEATH PENALTY
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2016LebanonDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES MAWLAWI, MANSOUR TO DEATH
The military court, headed by General Khalil Ibrahim, sentenced to death both Shadi Mawlawi and Jalal
JUNE 22, 2016LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: MINISTER OF JUSTICE, 'THE DEATH PENALTY MUST BE DELETED’
Minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi, taking part in the 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Oslo,
MAY 18, 2016LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: 106 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TERRORISM
A Lebanese military judge sentenced 106 men to death over the 2014 clashes between the army and
- MARCH 29, 2016LebanonDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON: THREE MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERS
Two Sri Lankans illegally residing in Lebanon and a Lebanese man were sentenced to death for killing two
- JANUARY 1, 2016LebanonDEATH PENALTY
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
FEBRUARY 6, 2015LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: 23 SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2007 FATAH AL-ISLAM BATTLE
- JANUARY 9, 2015LebanonDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON: 5 BROTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2007 KILLINGS
Lebanon’s judiciary sentenced five brothers from the Shamas family to death in abstentia over the 2007
- JANUARY 1, 2015LebanonDEATH PENALTY
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
- NOVEMBER 17, 2014LebanonDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON: DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST ISLAMIST DETAINEES REDUCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi stressed that "death sentence against Islamist detainees is reduced to life
- JANUARY 24, 2014LebanonDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON: MINISTER OF JUSTICE, 'THE MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS CONTINUES'
Beirut hosted a national conference against the death penalty in Lebanon. The conference, held at the